Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued the detailed verdict of a case registered for making obscene pictures in front of Quaid-e-Azam’s portrait over two years ago.
IHC Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri issued a detailed decision, dismissing the case filed against Zulfiqar Sohail, who was accused of participating in a controversial photoshoot in Islamabad. The case, registered on August 3, 2021, was based on a complaint by a citizen named Rashid Malik, who alleged that the photoshoot featured the duo in revealing dresses posing in front of the portrait of Pakistan’s founder, Quaid-e-Azam, and that they had made the pictures viral on social media.
However, the IHC found that there was no evidence to support the claims made by the plaintiff. The investigating officer and DSP Legal confirmed that the obscene photos did not go viral on social media. Additionally, the court noted that there were no eyewitnesses or forensic evidence against the petitioner, Zulfiqar Sohail.
The judgment also revealed that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had sought information on Instagram accounts related to the case, but the social media site did not provide information due to a lack of mutual legal assistance agreement. The court highlighted that without a web link, it was not possible to check any cyber activity related to the alleged photoshoot.
Considering the lack of evidence and the absence of any unlawful actions, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri ordered the dismissal of the case against Zulfiqar Sohail. Moreover, the court directed the police to take action against the plaintiff, Rashid Malik, for filing a false case.
The controversial photoshoot had taken place two years prior and had sparked mixed reactions on social media. While some users demanded action against the couple involved, others argued it was a matter of freedom of expression.
Throughout the proceedings, the accused couple, who were members of the band Mystical Shayari, faced backlash and threats, leading them to delete their Instagram posts. Senior journalist Ansar Abbasi had urged the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad to arrest the couple for spreading obscenity, but the court’s verdict found no merit in the allegations.
With the case now dismissed, the controversy surrounding the photoshoot has come to an end. The court ordered the concerned authorities to submit the police record within seven days and directed the magistrate to complete the proceedings within 30 days and submit a compliance report.
