ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Thursday directed social media activist Mariam Malik to appear before the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and record her statement in response to a notice issued by the agency. A single bench of IHC comprising Chief Justice of IHC Justice Athar Minallah conducted hearing of a petition of Ms Malik who appeared before the court along with her counsel Imaan Mazari Advocate and restrained the FIA from harassing the social media activist.
During the hearing, deputy attorney general produced her disputed tweets before the court and adopted the stance that she had tried to spread chaos in the society through her Twitter account.
Justice Athar remarked that the institutions in reality exist due to people and asked that had the FIA made it a crime if people who were not aware of the constitution, and had written something on the Twitter. He added that here no one cares about the constitution.
The FIA representative informed the court that they have initiated inquiry on the complaint of the state. The judge said that now this is only job left for the state which it has to do. The IHC Chief Justice said that she is uninformed and do not know about the constitution.
The judge continued that people said a lot of things about him and even, they had alleged that he had been given a flat. He further said that they utter falsehood on social media about him, so should he be influenced by it. Justice Athar said, “It would be violation of my oath if I became afraid of something on the social media.”
The IHC Chief Justice remarked that the institutions make their places with their work and character and these tweets have nothing to do with it. The FIA official said that they have only served notice and did not take any action.
Later, the bench directed the FIA to record the petitioner’s statement while restraining the agency from harassing Ms Malik and adjourned the hearing of the case till June 24 for further proceedings.
During the hearing, deputy attorney general produced her disputed tweets before the court and adopted the stance that she had tried to spread chaos in the society through her Twitter account.
Justice Athar remarked that the institutions in reality exist due to people and asked that had the FIA made it a crime if people who were not aware of the constitution, and had written something on the Twitter. He added that here no one cares about the constitution.
The FIA representative informed the court that they have initiated inquiry on the complaint of the state. The judge said that now this is only job left for the state which it has to do. The IHC Chief Justice said that she is uninformed and do not know about the constitution.
The judge continued that people said a lot of things about him and even, they had alleged that he had been given a flat. He further said that they utter falsehood on social media about him, so should he be influenced by it. Justice Athar said, “It would be violation of my oath if I became afraid of something on the social media.”
The IHC Chief Justice remarked that the institutions make their places with their work and character and these tweets have nothing to do with it. The FIA official said that they have only served notice and did not take any action.
Later, the bench directed the FIA to record the petitioner’s statement while restraining the agency from harassing Ms Malik and adjourned the hearing of the case till June 24 for further proceedings.
