ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani court on Thursday discharged retired Lieutenant General Amjad Shoaib from a case involving accusations of 'public mischief' and inciting the public against state institutions, four days after he was arrested.
Shoaib, who is widely considered to be a supporter of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, was arrested from his residence in Islamabad on Monday morning. A police case has been filed against him under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
The charges were levelled over remarks by the army veteran in a television talk show that the police report says “incited the government officials and opposition from performing their government and legal duties.”
Shoaib’s arrest drew condemnation from Khan, who has blamed the coalition government of PM Shehbaz Sharif of launching a political crackdown against his party and supporters. In recent months, several members of Khan’s party, including Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Azam Swati, and Dr Shahbaz Gill, have been arrested on various charges, including sedition, which carries the death sentence in Pakistan. All are out on bail.
Pro-Khan anchormen and journalists have also faced court cases since his ouster in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence last year.
“So glad to know that Lt Gen R Amjad Shoaib has [been] honorably discharged,” Khan’s aide and former federal minister Shafqat Mahmood said in a Twitter post. “A grievous wrong has been righted.”
In his TV appearance, Shoaib allegedly urged civil servants to refuse to do their duties. The charge against him claims his remarks were part of a “planned conspiracy” to weaken the country.
Shoaib does not hold any office in Khan’s party.
