February 22, 2023
By Rehan Piracha
LAHORE
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police have filed two sedition cases in Mardan and Noweshera against four individuals for using objectionable language against military officials in their posts on social media.
On February 20, Mardan police booked three persons Sohail Khan, Awais Qarni, and Ijazullah Khan for defamatory posts on Facebook against military officials and the government.
According to the first information report (FIR) registered with City Police Station, complainant Sub-Inspector Iftikhar Khan stated that the three individuals used highly objectionable language against military officials and the present government in their posts on social media and made these posts go viral on Facebook.
Speaking to Voicepk.net, the investigation officer said he had written to the Federal Investigation Agency about getting details of the accounts from which the social media posts were made as well as the identity of the users.
“Once the FIA provides relevant details and identities of the users, we will arrest the accused nominated in the FIR,” he added.
On the same day, Nowshera police filed a case against a man for allegedly carrying out a vilification campaign against state institutions on social media.
In the FIR registered with the Azakhel Police Station in Nowshera district, complainant Sub-Inspector Syed Asghar Khan said Muhammad Umair, a resident of Muhallah Shangray in Azakhel Bala, was running a disparaging drive against the security forces on different Facebook accounts. The FIR also quoted a comment from a social media post that the accused had addressed to the chief of Inter-Services Intelligence regarding the former military chief Qamar Javed Bajwa. Reportedly, the accused is currently working in the United Arab Emirates.
In both the FIRs, the accused were charged with offences under Sections 500 (punishment for defamation) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code. The offences carry a maximum punishment of 5 years and 7 years imprisonment respectively.
