Pak court asks police to reply in Veena Malik`s petition case

Lahore: A Pakistani court has issued a notice to police after admitting a petition seeking the registration of a criminal case against actress Veena Malik for defaming the country and the ISI by allegedly doing a nude photo shoot for an Indian magazine.

Lawyer Chaudhry Ishtiaq filed the petition in a district and sessions court here yesterday. He contended that the alleged act of the actress had scandalised Pakistan`s top spy agency and tarnished the image of the country and Islamic values. Ishtiaq said the actress, known for creating controversies, should be tried for anti-Pakistan and anti-Islam activities. The judge then issued notice to the chief of the Defence police station and asked him to respond by December 19. Malik was embroiled in a fresh controversy after FHM India magazine featured a nude photo of her with the letters ISI painted on her arm. Malik has denied she posed nude but the magazine has said it has video footage and emails from the actress to prove the authenticity of the pictures. The magazine and the actress have threatened to sue each other though some reports have suggested that the entire episode was a publicity stunt. In a separate development, the Iqbal Town police station has filed a report in another court in Lahore in response to a similar petition seeking action against Malik. Police said the petitioner in that case should approach an Indian court as the controversial photo shoot by Malik was not done in its jurisdiction. Moreover, FHM India is not printed in the jurisdiction of the police station, police said in its response. The judge put off the hearing of that case till December 16. PTI