Pakistan captain Babar Azam's legal troubles continue to grow as a Lahore Court has on Thursday (March 18) directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to file a case against the star cricketer on charges of harassment and blackmail. The orders have been made by the lower sessions court in Pakistan.
After a hearing in Lahore on a petition filed by a woman named Hamza Mukhtar on Thursday, Judge Hamid Hussain ordered the FIA’s Cyber Crime Circle to register an FIR against the Pakistan captain.
Hamiza has claimed that she had been constantly receiving “threatening messages” from different mobile numbers on WhatsApp from the unidentified person who also “threaten and blackmail her that they have her objectionable pictures and videos and will upload (them) on social media in order to harm her repute in society and ruin her life” after she filed a case against Babar.
At the hearing, the FIA officials revealed that they started the investigation after Hamiza filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime Cell and they found one of the 3 numbers used to send the threatening messages registered to Babar and two others to two women, Maryam Ahmed and Salme BB.
Apart from Babar, Maryam and Salme also received the notice to join the FIA's inquiry proceedings to record their statement but they two denied sending her abusive messages with Ahmed stating she would provide her mobile phone for technical analysis but she failed to do so.
Meanwhile, Pakistan captain didn’t appear before the FIA as his brother Faisal Azam appeared on behalf of Babar and requested the FIA to “wait for some time” to record the latter’s statement, but he has not yet appeared for the inquiry and now court said this shows “guilt” from his part.
The FIA report said in their original report once Azam didn't appear, “This shows guilty form [sic] his part.” Judge Hamid Hussain directed the FIA “to proceed further with respect to registration of the FIR against the culprits within the stipulated time following legal formalities.”
Read Also: BCCI addresses PCB's concerns over visas for the T20 World Cup 2021
On the other hand, Babar’s legal counsel Barrister Haris Azmat said: “The Honourable High Court in a connected case has already restrained the police from registering the FIR.”
Mr. Azmat further added, “The instant order has been passed without issuing a notice to Babar in violation of his fundamental rights of a fair trial as guaranteed in the constitution. The order is prima facie against the law and will be assailed soon.”
Noteworthy, Hamiza had made allegations of harassment and exploitation against Azam last year and has also filed harassment, sexual abuse, and other cases against the Pakistan captain in the court.
She had also approached the court that order police to investigate the matter but the case was never registered as Babar’s legal team secured a stay order from the Lahore High Court.
(With ANI/ESPNCricinfo Inputs)
