Babar Azam could be facing charges of blackmail and harassment pretty soon after a Lahore court directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to file a case against the Pakistan cricket team captain on Thursday.
Babar Azam has been accused of blackmailing posing threats to and harassing a woman named Hamiza Mukhtar, who filed a complaint with the FIA.
The Lahore-based woman is the same person who had claimed last year that Babar Azam sexually exploited her, forced her to have an abortion and made false promises of marriage.
Mukhtar had approached the court which directed the police to investigate the matter but somehow the case was never registered back then.
Mukhtar has now filed a fresh complaint with FIA for the registration of an FIR against unknown callers threatening her of dire consequences in response to the litigation initiated against Babar Azam.
The Lahore court judge Hamid Hasan has directed the respondent FIA “to proceed further with respect to registration of the FIR against the culprits within the stipulated time following legal formalities”.
“The Honourable High Court in a connected case has already restrained the police from registering the FIR.
“The instant order has been passed without issuing a notice to Babar in violation of his fundamental rights of fair trial as guaranteed in the constitution.
“The order is prima facie against the law and will be assailed soon,” Babar Azam’s legal counsel Barrister Haris Azmat said.
Babar Azam is currently gearing up to leave for South Africa to play a series of 3 ODIs and 4 T20Is in the rainbow nation from April 2 to 16. The 35-member Pakistan squad will leave for Johannesburg on March 26.
After the South African tour Pakistan will fly to Bulawayo on April 17 for three T20Is and two Tests against Zimbabwe. The side is scheduled to return on May 12
