FAISALABAD – A district and sessions court in Faisalabad has awarded three–year imprisonment to a supporter of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) forrunning a defamatory campaign against the Pakistan Army’s senior militaryleadership on Twitter.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested the suspect, identified asSikandar Zaman, last year after a complaint was lodged against him undervarious sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Prevention ofElectronic Crimes Act, 2016.
The Pak Lawyers Forum shared of page of the court’s verdict, stating theconvict has been sentenced imprisonment under section 24 (c) of PECA, 2016and 500 PPC. “Sikandar Zaman is also convicted u/s. SOS PPC and sentencedto three years S.I. with a fine of Rs.50,000/-. In case of default inpayment of fine, he shall further undergo S.I. for forty five days,” thecourt ruled.
All the substantial sentences shall run concurrently as benefit of section382-8 Cr.P.C. has been extended to the convict. The court has directed theauthorities to arrest the convict and put him behind the bars so he couldserve his sentence.
According to the first information report (FIR), Zaman shared a tweetagainst the Pakistan Army “relating to the helicopter incident” last yearwhen six Pakistan Army were martyred Lasbela district in August 2022.
Additional Sessions Judge Munsif Khan, in his verdict, said “From therecovered mobile phone, a number of similar types of saved data wererecovered from the memory of the mobile phone during forensic analysis,consisting of 1-29 pages. Although these 29 pages do not contain thealleged comments, it was explained by the technical staff of FIA that aforensic report of mobile phone has been prepared in the light of the scopeprovided by the IO (Investigating officer) and as per this scope, forensicswas to be conducted regarding posts against the army.”
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The court said the accused himself “admitted that he is a political workerof PTI”. All the documentary evidence also supports the same. In the givencircumstances, it cannot be considered that the accused has no intentionand it was a simple comment without mala fide and specific purpose.Electronic crime/social media crime continues for a number of years.
“The accused had tried to create a dispute about the senior leadership ofarmed forces which naturally has an effect towards the subordinateofficials and the general public,” the order said.
“In view of the foregoing reasons and findings, it is held that theprosecution has fully established its case in the light of modern devices,”the judge said in its ruling.
Meanwhile, PTI’s social media focal person Azhar Mashwani has vowed thechallenge the verdict in the high court. Hesaid that the party’s InsafLawyers Forum was trying to contact the Zaman’s family.
