ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad-based journalist has been booked under defamation and public mischief charges by the Punjab police. Asad Toor was also charged with separate sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act 2016.

The case was registered in the Jatli police station of Rawalpindi in response to a complaint lodged by Hafiz Ehtasham, a resident of Nasirabad.

The case was registered under section 499 (defamation), 500 (punishment for defamation) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of Pakistan Penal Code along with sections 11, 20 and 37 of Prevention of the Electronic Crime Act 2016.

According to the FIR, Asad Toor, a social media activist, has been doing propaganda against Pakistan and its institutions on the social media for long.

He used foul language against the institutions, including Pakistan Army, in his posts during the last few days, which is crime, it added.Both Mr Toor and the complainant against him could not be contacted for comments.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2020