SAHIWAL: Pakpattan police booked two persons for using ‘unethical, derogatory, offensive and dirty language’ against Chief Minister Marriam Nawaz on social media.

The case was registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016.

Pakpattan District Police Officer Javed Iqbal took notice of a viral post and directed police to act.

Farid Nagar Police Station booked Hafiz Taha Amin, a resident of Basti Farid, 16/SP, who had created the post, and Asif Farid, a resident of Mohalla Shaheed Nagar, the admin of the ‘Pakistan Kay Tiger Group’, under Section 20 of Peca and PPC 509 on the complaint of SHO Muhammad Mansha.

According to police sources, Hafiz Taha Amin lives currently in Islamabad while Asif Farid is located in Pakpattan city. Police arrested Asif and had a plan to conduct raids in Islamabad to arrest the post creator.

The first information report (FIR) states that the SHO, along with constables Shabbir Hussain and Abid, found a post on a social media platform during their mobile patrol. The post, which used offensive language against Maryam, was posted from a mobile phone. Police traced the post to Hafiz Taha while it was shared by the group admin Asif Farid.

Police claimed that Asif committed a crime by not deleting the post and instead shared it with a wider audience.

The police assert that the post could create disharmony, conflict and law and order issues among the public, leading to the registration of the case.

It is important to note that the National Assembly on Thursday passed The Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which faced significant opposition from political parties, civil society and journalists, who argue that it violates Section 17 of the Constitution, which protects freedom of expression of each citizen.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2025