In a significant development, Zohaib Zardari, a journalist and anchorperson at Awaz TV, has been sentenced in a harassment case. The Provincial Ombudsman of Sindh, Justice (Retd.) Shah Nawaz Tariq, announced the decision after hearing the case filed against Zardari. The court found the allegations against him to be proven, convicting him of harassment and imposing a fine of 1 million Pakistani rupees.
The case was filed by a female media student and travel blogger, who accused Zardari of harassment. After a detailed hearing, the court delivered its verdict.
According to the court's decision, the allegations against Zohaib Zardari were substantiated under Section 2H and Sub-Section 4(2) of the Harassment Act of 2010. The fine of 1 million rupees must be paid to the affected woman within 30 days through the court's registrar.
In the event that Zardari fails to pay the fine, the relevant Deputy Commissioner has been directed to take action under the Land Revenue Act of 1967. This includes recovering the fine amount by seizing both movable and immovable property, as well as bank accounts, and ensuring the amount is paid to the woman. If the fine remains unpaid beyond the stipulated period, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has been ordered to block Zohaib Zardari's national identity card.
The court's ruling is clear and unambiguous, stating that failure to comply with the order will lead to contempt of court proceedings against officers who fail to enforce the decision.