Filming of video in mosque: Pre-arrest bail granted to actor Saba, singer Bilal

LAHORE: A sessions court on Saturday granted interim pre-arrest bail to actor Saba Qamar and singer Bilal Saeed till August 25 in a case of video shooting in masjid Wazir Khan's premises.

On Saturday, Saba and Bilal appeared before the court along with their counsel sought bail citing apprehension of their arrest by the police. The court allowed bail and directed them to join the police investigation as and when required.

Akbari Gate police had registered a FIR against them under section 295 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) following a court's direction to act on an application of a lawyer Sardar Farhat Manzoor Khan as per law, and decide whether a cognizable offence was made out.

Their counsel argued that the FIR was baseless and contrary to the facts. He said no dance or music took place at the mosque as alleged in the FIR. He said the petitioners were ready to join the police investigation so they should be granted the bail.

The bar member in his petition had pleaded that the culprits trampled upon the sanctity of the mosque by their act which also sparked an outrage among the citizens. He asked the court to direct the police to lodge a case against the persons involved in the illegal act.

The Auqaf department and the actors through their lawyers had opposed the petition.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020