Viral elderly man released after arrest for abusing Punjab govt

A man who went viral for criticising the Punjab government's poor rain arrangements in Lahore has been released. Sajid Nawaz was arrested but his case was discharged by the Model Town Kacheri following public outcry on social media.

Nawaz, presented by Lahore's Green Town police, was also reportedly fired from his job after his arrest.

Multiple journalists on social media, including Asad Toor claimed that Sajid Nawaz was terminated from his position following his arrest. The news sparked backlash online, with many users calling for a boycott of the popular beverage company.

However, Qarshi Industries has not officially commented on the reports, and Nawaz's family has also not confirmed his termination as of yet.

Meanwhile, Sajid Nawaz’s son, Umar, had filed a petition in the Lahore Sessions Court seeking the recovery of his father. According to the petition, Nawaz was in police custody for two days without any formal charges or court proceedings.

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Additional Sessions Judge Ghulam Farid issued notices to the police and summoned a response by July 15. The court directed that if Sajid Nawaz was in police custody, he must be safely produced before the court. The hearing was adjourned until today (Tuesday).

The controversy began after a video of Sajid Nawaz riding a motorcycle through rainwater on a flooded road went viral. In the video, he used abusive language against the Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir while criticising the government's poor handling of the situation.

Following the video's circulation, police arrested Nawaz. Shortly after, a new video surfaced online in which he was seen apologising and calling his earlier comments a mistake.