Four first information reports (FIRs) have been registered against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Azam Khan Swati over a controversial tweet against Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported. 

The FIRs were registered on Sunday in the Darakhshan Police Station, Clifton Police Station, and Orangi Town Police Station in Karachi.

The FIRs had been registered on the complaints of two residents of Karachi - Tariq Hussain Arian, an advocate by profession, and Haji Muhammad Aslam, a businessman.

According to the FIRs, they were shocked and perturbed after seeing a post of PTI Senator Azam Swati on Twitter in which he used abusive language against Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. Pasting the picture of the army chief at his batch, he wrote below the picture “He needs to go to hell bastard”. 

They further added that such comments can invite public unrest and wrath against national institutions. His remarks can cause uncertainty and a law and order situation in the country.  These words can also create a negative image of our army among the comity of the world, they added.   

Pertinent to note that PTI Senator Azam Swati was arrested on Sunday morning by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) over a case related to a controversial tweet against the COAS. 

This is the second time in less than two months that Swati was arrested for posting comments against state institutions on social media.

A first information (FIR) report was registered by the FIA on the complaint of the state through Islamabad Cyber Crime Reporting Centre (CCRC) Technical Assistant Aneesur Rehman.

Following the arrest, a local court in Islamabad granted the FIA a two-day physical remand of Swati in the case.

Condemning the arrest, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said he was “shocked and appalled at how rapidly we are descending into not just a banana republic but a fascist state”.

The third FIR is registered in Clifton Police Station on the application of a citizen Riaz Ahmad while the fourth FIR is registered on the complaint of Khadim Hussain in the Saddar Police Station in Jacobabad.