A Karachi police officer has been booked and arrested under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) for posting derogatory remarks against President Asif Ali Zardari on Facebook on Friday.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel report, the case has been registered against Station Investigation Officer (SIO) Abrar Shah of Ibrahim Hyderi police station, and he was taken into custody by the police.
The officer allegedly made a controversial Facebook post on April 2, using offensive language against the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari.
As per the FIR lodged by duty officer Yaqoob, he was reading social media comments when he came across Abrar Shah's post at 8:40 pm, which indirectly targeted a high-ranking official and contained offensive content.
The duty officer stated that the Station Investigation Officer's (SIO) post on social media was deeply hurtful to him and other citizens.
The FIR invokes PECA Section 504 PPC 21, leading to legal action and further investigation.
The case has been handed over to an investigative officer for further proceedings.
In January 2025, the Pakistan government passed amendments to the PECA, further tightening government control over digital expression and internet freedom.
These amendments include the establishment of a Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA) and a Social Media Protection Tribunal, which have the power to block content and enforce compliance with directives.
Reporter: Anusha Jafri