[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]A PTI fan was given a three-year prison sentence by a district and sessions court in Faisalabad for “defaming” the Pakistan Army by engaging in a “very offensive and frightening campaign” on Twitter against the senior military leadership.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) detained Sikandar Zaman, 30, last year after receiving a complaint against him in accordance with sections 20 (Malicious code) and 24(c) (Legal recognition of offences committed in relation to information system) of the 2016 Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. Moreover, the Pakistan Criminal Code’s Sections 500 (Punishment for Defamation) and 505 (Statements Contributing to Public Mischief) were cited.
Sikander Zaman @imsikanderzaman is sentenced to three years imprisonment and huge fine for having criticized #Pakarmy/ institutions on Twitter leading to create panic and defamation of state institutions. He has 184 followers. pic.twitter.com/s9PVMnJJpA
— Pak Lawyers Forum (@PLF_Officials) February 14, 2023
184 people were following him on his account, according to the Pak Lawyers Forum. The cops also took Zaman’s mobile phone and Twitter account. The first information report (FIR), which is referenced in the judgement, claims that Zaman tweeted last year with the intention of “spreading terror” in society about the Pakistan Army “related to the helicopter incident.”
Six soldiers and army officers accepted martyrdom in August 2022 when their helicopter crashed in Balochistan’s Lasbela area. Following the crash, a social media campaign started that the army deemed “insensitive” arose. The FIA has then started looking for those responsible for the initiative. The PTI supporter was brought before the court and a trial got underway after Zaman was arrested. On February 8, the trial came to a conclusion, and Additional Sessions Judge Munsif Khan issued a ruling.
The court’s ruling, a copy of which is available at Dawn.com, said that the defendant did not contest ownership of the aforementioned Twitter account. “During forensic examination, several similar sorts of saved data, totaling 1-29 pages, were recovered from the memory of the found mobile phone. Although the alleged statements are not contained in these 29 pages.
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