LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) cybercrime cell on Saturday arrested a journalist for allegedly uploading defamatory and obnoxious posts against the judiciary, government institutions and intelligence agencies.

The FIA arrested Rizwanur Rehamn Razi of Din News from his residence in Jauhar Town, confiscated his mobile phone and booked him under Sections 11 and 20 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act-2016, and 123-A and 500 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The state through the FIA cybercrime cell of Lahore is the complainant in the case.

An official told Dawn that Mr Razi would be presented before a magistrate on Sunday to obtain his physical remand. “We will interrogate the suspect to know the reasons behind his action,” he said.

According to the FIR, an inquiry was initiated against Mr Razi regarding uploading of defamatory and obnoxious posts through a social media account of Twitter against the judiciary, government institutions and intelligence agencies. “During the course of inquiry, the initial analysis of the questioned images and upon tracing of the alleged defamatory posts, it was revealed that the said social media posts were made through an account of Twitter namely @RaziDada having web link i.e. httpps://twitter.com/RaziDada. It has been further analysed that the said Twitter account is associated with Rizwanur Rehamn Razi of Din News as reflected on the said account.”

Subsequently, it said Mr Razi joined the inquiry proceedings and his statement was recorded. “Mr Razi confessed that he uploaded the alleged posts against the judiciary and other departments through his own Twitter account which has been in his use since 2011.

“He is very embarrassed for the alleged posts and apologised. He promised that he will not upload such derogatory/ humiliating posts against the dignity of sate institutions of Pakistan. i.e. judiciary, Pakistan Armed Forces and intelligence agencies,” it said.

“During the course of inquiry, the forensic data extraction report was obtained which established that the suspect Rizwanur Rehman Razi uploaded derogatory/humiliating posts against the judiciary, government institutions and intelligence agencies through social media.”

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2019