PAKPATTAN:
An administrator of a WhatsApp group was arrested for allegedly allowing a derogatory post targeting Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to circulate in the group under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016.
One case, filed at the Farid Nagar police station, accuses a member of the group of sharing an offensive post and the administrator of turning a blind eye to its spread.
According to the first information report (FIR) dated January 23, the post, which is described as containing “obscene language”, was uploaded through the group member’s mobile number.
It is alleged that the group’s administrator, a resident of Shaheed Nagar, did not remove the defamatory post despite knowing that it was “immoral, offensive and illegal”. Instead, he is accused of “providing an opportunity for other members of the group to see the post” and attempting to “wreak chaos among the public.”
The FIR cites violations of section 20 of the PECA (offences against the dignity of a natural person) and section 509 of the Pakistan Penal Code (insulting modesty or causing sexual harassment).
District Police Officer (DPO) Pakpattan Javed Iqbal Chaddar confirmed the arrest under the old PECA law in Pakpattan.
“A suspect posted a malicious and insulting message against the Punjab chief minister in the WhatsApp group. The group administrator has been arrested,” he said.
According to the DPO, the Farid Nagar police acted promptly on their orders after the post went viral on social media. Sub-inspector Muhammad Mansha, the complainant, filed the case, prompting SHO Rana Shehzad Akram to arrest the accused.
“Further investigations are underway,” the DPO said, adding that the police were committed to tackling misuse of social media platforms to spread hate or unrest.
