
PTI worker secures bail in propaganda case
The court of Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah has approved the post-arrest bail petition filed on behalf of PTI worker Haider Saeed, who was arrested in a case of propaganda against institutions.
During the hearing, the court inquired about the allegations, to which the investigating officer replied that Haider Saeed had spread misinformation and reposted a post from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). He added that the account from which the BLA post was reposted was a verified account
Saeed's counsel Tabish Farooq argued that the posts did not incite public unrest and that the case required further investigation. He added that Saeed was kidnapped, and citing various higher court decisions, he further argued that the accused was not the head of any organisation and had not committed treason. "He was taken away by unknown individuals and could not be traced all day," he said.
During the hearing, Haider Saeed's mother also appeared in the courtroom and said, "When my son was taken away, I was told that he had committed murder. My son is being portrayed as a terrorist. We are actually patriotic people."
After the presentation of arguments, the court reserved its verdict on Haider Saeed's post-arrest bail petition. Later on, in its order, the court approved the petition and ordered the release of Haider Saeed on bail against surety bonds worth Rs200,000.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
1595079124-0%2FWebp-net-resizeimage-(6)1595079124-0.jpg&w=3840&q=100)

Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
Youth preferring to shop and earn online taxed
Listen to article In a highly unusual move, the government has proposed to extract Rs64 billion in the next fiscal year by taxing the digital, online platforms as well as courier services, which may discourage digitalisation of the economy and youth of the country. From 0.25% to 5%, the new tax has been imposed on digital service providers, e-commerce platforms, websites, social media platforms and poor courier doing business of delivering goods at homes and receiving cash on delivery. The government has defined the digitally delivered services as any service delivered over the internet or electronic networks, where the delivery is automated and requires minimal or no human intervention including music, audio and video streaming services, cloud services, online software application services, services delivered through online interpersonal interaction, ie, telemedicine, e-learning etc, online banking services, architectural design services, research and consultancy reports, accounting services in the form of digital files or any other online facility. E-commerce has been defined as the sale or purchase of goods and services conducted over computer networks by methods specifically designed for the purpose of receiving or placing orders either through websites, mobile applications or online marketplaces having digital ordering features by using either mobile phones, iPads, Tablets or automated computer-to-computer ordering systems. The government has introduced a new law whereby it will charge every foreign vendor having significant digital presence in Pakistan in the name of Digital Presence Proceeds Tax on proceeds of every supply made from outside Pakistan of digitally ordered services or goods, irrespective of whether delivered digitally or physically. It has proposed a 5% tax on digital services. These foreign vendors will be liable to provide client-wise information of local vendors or foreign vendors with or without a permanent establishment whose advertisements are relayed in Pakistan through their platform and the amount received. Banks will be required to deduct the 5% tax. On the use of local online platforms, the government will charge a 1% tax where the amount does not exceed Rs10,000. Where the amount paid does not exceed Rs25,000, the rate will be 2% and where the amount exceeds Rs25,000, the tax rate will be 0.25%. Likewise, the government has introduced a new tax on cash on delivery by courier services. On the supply of electronic and electrical goods, the rate is 0.25%, on clothing articles, 2% of the gross amount will be charged and on other goods, the rate is 1% of the value. The government has also proposed fines on allowing unregistered persons to use online platforms without registering with the FBR. Where an online marketplace allows an unregistered vendor, whether resident or non-resident involved in e-commerce business supplying digitally ordered goods or services, who is required to register under the Sales Tax Act 1990 and Income Tax Ordinance 2001, under Section 181 before using the platform, he will be liable to a fine of Rs1 million. Where a banking company, payment gateway or courier service provider, as the case may be, fails to deduct tax at the time of making payment to a seller, or fails to pay the tax deducted as required under Section 160, with respect to digitally ordered goods or rendering or providing digitally delivered services using an e-commerce platform, he will be liable to a fine equal to 100% of the tax involved in the transaction.


Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Court clerk sentenced to death for lawyer's murder
A Dera Ghazi Khan court clerk has been sentenced to death and fined Rs600,000 after being found guilty of murdering a junior lawyer within the premises of the district court. District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Abbas announced the verdict on Monday, concluding a five-month trial in which the accused, Rehmatullah, was convicted of fatally stabbing junior lawyer Saddam Hussain and injuring another lawyer, Akhtar Hussain Lashari, during a violent incident on December 28, 2024. The attack occurred inside the District Courts complex. Saddam Hussain, the brother of Advocate Tajammul Shabbir, died at the scene. Advocate Akhtar Hussain sustained injuries in the assault. Fellow lawyers managed to overpower Rehmatullah on the spot and handed him over to Civil Lines Police. The case was registered based on a complaint filed by the victim's uncle, Advocate Hafiz Ashiq Hussain. Police completed their investigation and submitted the charge sheet without delay. The trial was conducted under the supervision of Judge Abbas with the prosecution led by Shamshad Ahmed Qureshi. After hearing the case, the court sentenced Rehmatullah to death for murder and imposed a fine of Rs500,000 in compensation to the victim's family. For the injury caused to Advocate Akhtar Hussain, the convict received a five-year prison term and an additional Rs100,000 in compensation. Failure to pay the fine will result in six more months of imprisonment. Following the verdict, Rehmatullah was transferred to Central Jail.


Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Govt employees, pensioners reject budget as 'cruel joke'
Sources told The Express Tribune that PM Sharif formed the committee after the planning ministry thrice rejected a proposal from the finance ministry to assume responsibility for provincial nature schemes. PHOTO: FILE Various employee and pensioner associations, including the All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA), All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA), Railway Workers Union, Punjab Teachers Union, Educators Association, and Railway Pensioners Association, have outright rejected the new federal budget, labelling it a "traditional charade of words." They warn that the budget will lead to a stormy increase in inflation, pushing 50% of families below the poverty line. Leaders condemned the mere 10% increase in salaries as "insignificant and shameful," predicting a rise in suicides and starvation. They asserted that pension reforms have effectively "buried alive" pensioner families. Shehzad Manzoor Kiyani, Central Vice President of APCA, and Divisional President Chaudhry Mubashir stated that the budget is a "severe joke" on government employees. They highlighted the stark contrast with the significant salary increases for Members of Assemblies and ministers, while employees are being "buried alive." The elimination of ministries, divisions, institutions, and 40,000 posts will devastate the lower-income segments. Muhammad Shafiq Bhalwalia, Central Secretary General of the Education Pensioners Association, called the minimal salary increase for teachers, employees, and pensioners amidst soaring inflation "ridiculous." He pointed out that ministers, assembly members, senators, advisors, the Senate Chairman, and Speakers of Assemblies have seen a gradual 650% increase in their salaries before the budget. He argued that a comparison between the 2024-2025 budget records and the unchecked increase in privileges and salaries for the ruling class proves that this budget is pro-rulers but certainly not pro-employees or pensioners. He added that pension reforms are destroying the future of employees, pushing them into the abyss of poverty. Mubarak Hussain, Central Secretary General of the Railway Workers Union, stated that the budget was designed to benefit the government's cronies, with the business and trading class reaping all the advantages from tax reductions. He accused the government of favouring its political and business fraternity, calling the 10% salary increase a "scrap allowance" and the 7% pension increase a "mockery," akin to giving poison to pensioners. He claimed that the government extracts Rs600 billion in taxes from employees without providing any benefit, while those paying Rs8 billion in taxes enjoy benefits throughout the year. He demanded an abolition of salary tax for employees earning Rs600,000 to Rs1.2 million, and that the tax collection from those in grades 17 to 22 should be only 10%. He noted that no tax has been imposed on the salaries of Members of Parliament, Senators, and National Assembly members, suggesting a 25% tax should be levied on them. Rana Liaquat and Basharat Iqbal Raja, leaders of the Punjab Teachers Union and Educators Association, asserted that the government has treated state institutions like a "widow" and employees as "widowers," leading to a complete loss of trust in the current administration.