The Sindh High Court has granted interim bail to acclaimed Pakistani filmmaker and writer Jamshed Mahmood Raza, popularly known as Jami. The decision came just days after a lower court convicted him in a defamation case and sentenced him to two years in prison.
Jami was found guilty by a subordinate court for allegedly defaming director Sohail Javed through a social media post. Following the conviction, his legal team promptly filed an appeal at the Sindh High Court, challenging the verdict and requesting bail.
The high court accepted the appeal and suspended Jami’s sentence, granting him interim bail. The court also directed him to submit a surety bond worth Rs50,000 as part of the bail conditions.
In their appeal, Jami’s lawyers argued that the trial court had incorrectly shifted the burden of proof onto the accused. This, they said, was a clear violation of established principles of criminal law and natural justice. The defense also pointed out that the prosecution’s evidence was unreliable and contradictory.
They maintained that the subordinate court’s ruling was flawed and should be overturned. The defense team urged the Sindh High Court to thoroughly re-examine the facts of the case and deliver justice.
Speaking to the media, Jami’s lawyer confirmed the interim bail decision. He noted that the case will now move forward through the appeals process, where arguments will be heard in the coming weeks.
The Sindh High Court has not yet made a final ruling on the conviction. However, this decision brings temporary relief to Jami as he continues to contest the charges and seek full acquittal.
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