Karachi police have cracked down on one of their own, filing a First Information Report (FIR) against Station Investigation Officer (SIO) Abrar Shah.
The charge was posting an obscene comment about President Asif Ali Zardari on social media. The incident, which occurred on April 2, 2025, prompted swift action after Officer Yaqoob from the Sukkun police station complained.
The FIR is filed under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (PECA), which focuses on cyber offences. The police have arrested Shah, supported by screenshots of his derogatory post. The case will now be assigned to an Investigation Officer for further examination, emphasizing a zero-tolerance approach to digital misconduct.
آصف علی زرداری کے خلاف نا زیبہ الفاظ استعمال کرنے پر ایس آئی او ابراہیم حیدری ابرار شاہ پر پیکا ایکٹ کے تحت مقدمہ درج سکھن پولیس کے ہاتھوں گرفتار pic.twitter.com/UXNMnsSmp1
— Moosa Khan Afridi (@moosa_afrid) April 4, 2025Authorities have recently filed three separate cases under the PECA 2025 law against individuals accused of spreading propaganda online. These cases, recorded at the Shahdara, Shahdara Town, and Kot Lakhpat police stations, focus on anti-state content targeting Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and various institutions. The police claim that AI-generated videos contributed to the smear campaign, which is associated with a political group inciting unrest.
Read: President Zardari Tests Positive for COVID-19, says Dr. Asim Hussain
Shah’s arrest and the Punjab cases highlight Pakistan’s increasing focus on combating cyber crimes, particularly those affecting high-profile individuals. As investigations progress, the consequences could alter online accountability.
