The two French journalists who visited Quetta last month without getting permission from the related Pakistan authority have been sent for six months rigorous imprisonment (RI) by a Sessions Judge on Saturday.
Nuzhat Ara Alvi, III Additional Sessions Judge Karachi South sentenced the accused 1) Jean Paul Guilloteau s/o Michael Guilloteau, and 2) Joel Marc Epstein s/o Gabriel Epstein to undergo R.I. for six months each, and each to pay fine of Rs 100,000, in case of default in payment of fine each to undergo simple imprisonment of seven days.
The judgement says that the intentions were shrouded in mystery for their visit to Quetta. They confessed before the court, admitted the guilt and both accused voluntarily pleaded guilty.
AFP ADDS: The Paris-based journalists' rights group Reporters without borders on Saturday called on the French foreign ministry to "put its foot down" over the jailing of two French journalists for visa-related offences in Pakistan.
The foreign ministry had not yet reacted on Saturday to the news of jailing of two reporters.
"I think that the foreign ministry should put its foot down," the head of RSF, Robert Menard, told AFP in Paris.
"We are worried and we think there must absolutely be a broader mobilisation, because nothing guarantees that they will be freed in the coming days," he said.
Defence lawyer Nafees Siddiqui applied for a suspension immediately after reporter Marc Epstein and photographer Jean-Paul Guilloteau were found guilty and sentenced.
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