Citizen taken into custody for likening Tarnol Railway Crossing to Strait of Hormuz

Published April 24, 2026
Traffic congestion due to road closures implemented by authorities, following the suspension of transport and closure of markets on security restrictions. — Reuters
Traffic congestion due to road closures implemented by authorities, following the suspension of transport and closure of markets on security restrictions. — Reuters

ISLAMABAD: Police have arrested a citizen for allegedly mocking and likening the Tarnol Railway crossing to the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route, has been virtually paralysed by the Middle East war.

The first information report (FIR), a copy of which is available with Dawn, has been registered on the complaint of Sub-inspector Shahid Asghar on the state’s behalf.

The FIR was registered under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant), Section 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) and Section 511 (punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or for a shorter term) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

According to the complaint, a man identified as Khurram was accused of sharing a post on social media, saying, “Tarnol Railway Crossing is no less than the Strait of Hormuz. If it is closed, all our problems will be resolved”.

It said that the citizen was taken into custody and his phone was also checked, wherein evidence of the social media post was found.

It is worth mentioning that the development comes as extraordinary security measures are in place in the twin cities ahead of an expected second round of talks between the United States and Iran amid the war in the Middle East.

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