KARACHI: A judicial magistrate discharged a policeman who was booked and arrested under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016 for allegedly using abusive language against President Asif Ali Zardari on a social media platform.

The case was registered against Abrar Shah, said to be a Senior Investigation Officer of the Ibrahim Hyderi police station, at the Sukkun police station under Section 21 (offences against modesty of a natural person and minor) of Peca read with Section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

According to the contents of the FIR, complainant Muhammad Yaqoob, who is also an assistant sub-inspector, stated that he was scrolling his Facebook account on his mobile phone when he came across a comment posted from Mr Shah’s ID against slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and President Zardari.

It added that Mr Shah had allegedly used abusive language against an important figure in the country, which hurt the sentiments of the complainant and citizens.

Sukkun SHO Adeel Shah told Dawn on Friday that the police had registered the complaint against Mr Shah on Wednesday. He added that the police brought him before the judicial magistrate (Malir) on Thursday to seek his physical remand.

However, after the hearing, the court discharged the suspect under Section 63 (discharge of person apprehended) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The judicial magistrate also directed the investigating officer of the case to file a report within the stipulated period as per the law.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2025