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Ahmedi newspaper office raided, two arrested

LAHORE: Police raided an Ahmedi newspaper office on Saturday and arrested a printer and a journalist, charging them with offences under the Anti Terrorism Act (ATA). Ahmedi representatives condemned the raid as harassment and an attack on press freedom. Chenab Nagar (Rabwah) police raided the Daily Alfazal and lodged cases under 298B and 298C of the Pakistan Penal Code, 16 Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) and 9 ATA against the arrested men. The journalist, Abdul Sattar Khan, was later released but the printer, Sultan Dogar, is still in detention. “The raid was part of the government’s campaign to confiscate hate-literature,” DSP Saeed Tatla said. According to the FIR, the newspaper preached Qadiyani beliefs, and the newspaper described Ahemdis as Muslims, which is against the law. Inspector Muhammad Yasir, SHO of Chenab Nagar police, said that the Punjab additional inspector general (Operations) had ordered them to confiscate four issues of Alfazal and take action against the editor, printer and publisher of the newspaper. “The publisher and editor are still at large,” he said. Daily Alfazal opened in 1911 and is one of the oldest newspapers in Pakistan. A press release from an Ahmedi organisation condemned the raid, terming it an attack on press freedom. It denied the newspaper was printing hate-literature, and urged the government to stop the harassment of the minority community. ali waqar

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