A judicial magistrate in Karachi has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against prominent social media influencer Sahil Adeem in connection with a defamation case.
The charges against Adeem involve allegations of attempting to incite provincialism, a serious accusation that has prompted legal action due to his failure to comply with court orders.
The case escalated after investigation officer Waqar Ahmed presented the final charge sheet, highlighting Adeem’s absence from the proceedings. As a result, the court has ordered Sahil Adeem’s immediate arrest and mandated his appearance in court by September 24, 2024.
This legal action stems from an old video where Sahil Adeem allegedly made discriminatory remarks against Sindhis, suggesting that Sindhis offer their daughters to landlords before marriage. This video spurred an FIR filed by Abdul Fattah Advocate, accusing Adeem of fostering division between Punjabis and Sindhis.
The charges against Sahil Adeem encompass several sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including 153 for promoting enmity between groups, 505(1)C for intent to cause alarm, and 500 for defamation. Authorities also invoked additional provisions under Criminal Procedure Code section 512 to record evidence in Adeem’s absence.
Read: Scripted Debate Between Sahil Adeem and Khalil-ur-Rehman Causes Stir
State prosecutor Abdul Rehman Thaheem reported that officials formally registered the case against Adeem on July 12 at the City Court Police Station following a complaint. Despite orders from the Islamabad High Court directing him to cooperate with the authorized court in Karachi, Adeem did not participate in the investigation nor attend the court hearings.
Read: Sahil Adeem Faces Legal and Public Backlash
In a related development, Sahil Adeem secured a 15-day protective bail from the Islamabad High Court on July 15, with a bail bond set at 20,000 rupees. Furthermore, Marvi Faiz, a lawmaker with the Pakistan Peoples Party, has also taken legislative action against Adeem by submitting a resolution in the Sindh Assembly Secretariat. This resolution addresses his alleged derogatory remarks towards women during a private TV channel show titled “Mukalma.”
