ISLAMABAD_ A legal case has been filed against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi under the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) after videos surfaced on social media allegedly containing derogatory statements about state and national security institutions.
FIR Registered at Cyber Crime Centre
The FIR was lodged at the Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islamabad by a sub-inspector from the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).The complaint cites Afridi’s media remarks made outside Adiala Jail, which were allegedly false, intimidating, and derogatory towards state institutions. These statements were further disseminated through the official PTI social media accounts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Allegations Against Afridi
The FIR accuses Afridi of creating and spreading misleading and inflammatory content on social media, with the intention to incite violence, spread hatred, and promote anti-state sentiments, thereby threatening Pakistan’s security and stability. The investigation has been assigned to NCCIA Sub-Inspector Waseem Khan.
Interior Minister Condemns Remarks
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned Afridi’s statements, calling them “baseless and intolerable,” and accused the KP chief minister of showing “extreme ingratitude” toward the armed forces.
“No patriotic citizen can speak against the brave officers and soldiers who laid down their lives for Pakistan,”
Naqvi said.
“The nation and the world recognize the services of our security personnel, who restored peace by giving their lives.” He further added
Naqvi further accused Afridi of attempting to please Pakistan’s enemies through his remarks and demanded a public apology to the nation.
Security and Political Implications
The case highlights increasing scrutiny of political leaders’ statements on social media under PECA, reflecting the state’s sensitivity to content that could undermine national security or public confidence in state institutions. As the investigation unfolds, the political and legal consequences for Sohail Afridi remain closely watched by both the public and analysts, amid ongoing debates over freedom of expression and accountability in Pakistan.
