Speaking on a TV show on ARY News, the journalist said the critics of the Pakistan Army and other state institutions needed to be put to death as this was the best way to handle them.
The journalist went on to make an analogy between the people who criticise the military and a person who was allegedly put to death by the second caliph, Hazrat Umar (RA) for questioning a judgement of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Bill to criminalise criticism against army
On Sept 16, a bill moved by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Amjad Ali Khan in the National Assembly sought to criminalise ‘defaming the armed forces or any of its members’.
The proposed law that seeks an amendment in the Pakistan Penal Code by the insertion of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 2020 suggests a two-year jail term or Rs500,000 fine in case one is found guilty of ‘ridiculing’ the armed forces of the country.
The bill reads: “Whosoever intentionally ridicules, brings into disrepute or defames the Armed Forces of Pakistan or a member thereof, he shall be guilty of an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to five hundred thousand rupees, or with both.”