Pakistan: Journalist acquitted in terrorism case

KARACHI, Pakistan

A Pakistani court on Wednesday overturned the conviction of a journalist in a terrorism case, according to court record.

A two-judge bench of the Sindh High Court acquitted Nasarullah Chaudhry on his appeal in the port city of Karachi, declaring that the prosecution had failed to prove its case.

Chaudhry, who is associated with a local Urdu language daily, Nae Baat, had been sentenced to five years in jail by an anti-terrorism court for possessing copies of a magazine allegedly linked with terrorist groups.

Police claimed to have recovered four copies of Nawa-e-Afghan Jihad, or Voice of Afghan Jihad, dating back to 2012, which, according to the prosecution, were meant to fan terrorism.

He was arrested a day after security agencies raided the Karachi Press Club, the country's oldest journalist body, sparking protest from both local and international journalist groups.

The raid, and his arrest was viewed as part of a perceived government campaign to stifle press freedom in the country.

KARACHI, Pakistan

A Pakistani court on Wednesday overturned the conviction of a journalist in a terrorism case, according to court record.

A two-judge bench of the Sindh High Court acquitted Nasarullah Chaudhry on his appeal in the port city of Karachi, declaring that the prosecution had failed to prove its case.

Police claimed to have recovered four copies of Nawa-e-Afghan Jihad, or Voice of Afghan Jihad, dating back to 2012, which, according to the prosecution, were meant to fan terrorism.

He was arrested a day after security agencies raided the Karachi Press Club, the country's oldest journalist body, sparking protest from both local and international journalist groups.

The raid, and his arrest was viewed as part of a perceived government campaign to stifle press freedom in the country.