How did the dispute between a poet and an actor of Lahore reach the court?

Muhammad Hammad, a poet from Lahore, has filed a personal complaint against actor Fahad Javed Hashmi of Ajoka Theater in the court of District Sessions Judge Lahore under Section 500 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 for defamation.

In his complaint, Hamad has alleged that he was told by someone that Fahad Hashmi sat in the food street of Old Anarkali on January 23, 2022 and accused him in front of some people that the plaintiff had come to him through a recommendation in the past so that He should teach them poetry, writing and hosting a show. Not only this but Fahad Hashmi repeatedly repeated this in front of people while there is no truth in it. Plaintiff never went to Fahad in any connection.

Muhammad Hamad has also said that Fahad Hashmi has also accused him of sending his poetry to him for correction again and again, which is considered very derogatory in the circle of poets, but there is no truth in this. And Fahad Hashmi has tried to hurt his reputation by making such allegations against him.

Complainant Muhammad Hammad also wrote in his complaint that he is also an active member of Arbab Zouk constituency in Lahore, apart from that he writes columns in various newspapers and is also a radio jockey while also working as a journalist in a daily newspaper.

He also claimed that when he tried to inquire about the matter from Fahadh through WhatsApp, Fahadh started shouting at him and also said that poets are disgraceful people of this society and in front of me, poets and writers. No times.

Hamad said in his complaint that all this has caused him mental torture to such an extent that he has suffered from depression and when he goes to his friends or literary gatherings he has to clean himself up. Therefore, under Section 500 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, Fahad Hashmi should be punished.

We contacted Muhammad Hamad to get more details from him but he refused to tell Independent Urdu anything about the case.

Interestingly, Muhammad Hammad submitted this complaint in the court in February 2022.

On the other hand, Fahad Hashmi told Independent Urdu that he came to know about the complaint filed against him in the court in August when a non-bailable warrant of arrest was issued against him and he received a call from the police station. According to Fahad, he did not receive any court notice earlier. Later he came to know that the court notices were being sent to a wrong address.

He said that he went to the court for the hearing of the case for the first time on September 20 as per the court order, after which some seniors and members of the Arbab Zouk constituency suggested that the problem should be resolved by sitting down and discussing among themselves. . But in the meantime, the second hearing of the case came up for which I could not go to the court and the next date for the hearing was given which was 16th November.

“On that day I was charged and the judge asked me to submit the bail bond and fixed November 18 for trial. On the 18th when I appeared in court and requested that the record of the case be provided to me so that I could advocate. Honorable Judge asked me to get the case file from the office and when I came out of the court office six to seven people including lawyers attacked me and beat me so much that my Injured the face.’

“Hamad has complained that I have criticized him, which I have not done,” says Fahad. Still, I say yes, if I did, criticism is not a crime. I am an educated person working in good institutions now I am also acting for mainstream media. Now they have accused me, I will follow the case fully, but what happened in court happened to me and later I was also threatened.’

He said that he also has the medico-legal record of that day and he had also submitted the report of the torture in the concerned police station, a copy of which is also with him.

He said that ‘During the appearance, the plaintiff i.e. Hamad told me that there is money involved in his case, so I should write the money and an apology letter, on which I told him that I have never deliberately hurt anyone. I didn’t say anything against him but if you feel that something like that happened to me unintentionally, then I am sorry and I also told him to reconcile. But they refused.’

While the other plaintiff, Muhammad Hamad, refused to tell Independent Urdu the details of the case, he denied that he or any of his accomplices tortured Fahad outside the court. Hamad also denied that Fahad had tried to reconcile with him.

In this regard, Independent Urdu contacted Farah Rizvi, Secretary of Arbab Zouk Constituency. Farah said that according to his records, no person named Muhammad Hamad is a member of Arbab Zouk Lahore. He also said that after consultation with the Arbab Zouk Constituency Council, a condemnation resolution was also presented in the weekly meeting of the Constituency on November 20, which was unanimously approved by the members present and endorsed by the President of the Jalsa, Abdul Waheed. of

Circle Secretary Farah Rizvi further said that Arbab Zouk Circle is against all forms of violence and believes in resolving issues between people through understanding.

Amir Faraz, the former secretary of Arbab Zouk constituency, who was elected many times, while talking to Independent Urdu, said that there has definitely been a lawsuit regarding the elections of Arbab Zouk constituency, but this kind of case has never passed before his eyes. .

After perusal of the case file, Independent Urdu confirmed that the Hon’ble Court vide its order dated 16th November 2022 initiated the trial and framed the charge sheet against the accused Fahad.

However, due to the lack of progress in the hearing scheduled for November 30, 2022, the court decided to hear the case on January 11, 2023.