A Lahore sessions court on Tuesday released Muhammad Sajid, an elderly man seen in a viral video allegedly using offensive language against the Punjab chief minister. The court ruled that there was no incriminating evidence linking him to any criminal act under the charges filed in a 2024 case.
Sajid had been arrested on July 14 by Johar Town police and was presented before a Model Town court the next day. His son, Muhammad Umar, filed a habeas corpus petition, claiming Sajid was illegally detained without being produced before any court. The court asked police for a detailed reply and immediate explanation.
According to the court order, police failed to provide valid grounds for keeping Sajid in custody. It noted that the facts raised doubts about the police’s version of events. The court rejected the police’s request for judicial remand and ordered Sajid’s immediate release.
Sajid’s lawyer, Advocate Noman Sarwar Dogar, argued that his client was wrongly implicated in an FIR lodged in 2024. Another legal counsel, Advocate Sameer Khan Khattak, told the court police allegedly forced Sajid to record apology videos, which were later leaked online.
The court ruled that such actions were unacceptable. Additional District and Sessions Judge Ghulam Farid dismissed the case, stating Sajid should be freed as no legal justification was provided for his detention. The incident has sparked debate on civil rights, freedom of speech, and police overreach.