PAKPATTAN, January 24 (Alliance News): A man in Punjab’s Pakpattan city was arrested on Friday for allegedly allowing an offensive post targeting Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to be shared in a WhatsApp group. The arrest was made under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (Peca).
According to the first information report (FIR) — a copy of which is available with media outlets — the post, described as “immoral and insulting,” was shared in the group.
The group admin, who is accused of not deleting the post, was arrested for “spreading chaos” and facilitating the dissemination of offensive content.
The FIR cites Section 20 of Peca and Section 509 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The Pakpattan police confirmed the arrest, stating that the suspect had permitted the distribution of the defamatory post against the Punjab CM.
This development follows the National Assembly’s recent passage of the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, which has introduced changes to cybercrime laws, including stricter penalties for spreading false or offensive information online.
The amendment lowers the maximum punishment for spreading “fake information” to three years of imprisonment and imposes a fine of up to Rs2 million.
It also proposes the establishment of new entities, including the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA), the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), and the Social Media Protection Tribunal, to enhance regulatory oversight.
Critics, including journalist bodies, have voiced concerns over the revised legislation, calling it a threat to freedom of expression.