Journalist held under Peca for ‘spreading fake, provocative news on social media’

The District Central police have arrested a journalist, Sheikh Junaid Sagar Qureshi, associated with social media and a local newspaper for allegedly spreading false and provocative content online.

An FIR No 170/25 was registered against him at the Khawaja Ajmair Nagri police station under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) on the complaint of ASI Tariq Mumtaz.

The complainant stated in the FIR that he was browsing various messages on WhatsApp when he came across a video in which Sagar discussed an incident at a fast food outlet, claiming that an angry mob had attacked police and pelted them with stones.

The journalist alleged that an SHO and two officers were injured during the attack. Sagar also claimed in the video that within the jurisdiction of the Sir Syed police station, a dumper truck had run over a woman.

However, upon investigation, police found that no such incident had taken place and no woman had fallen victim to any dumper truck.

The police stated that the journalist was actively spreading false and inflammatory news on social media, creating unnecessary panic and unrest among the public.

According to the text of the FIR, his acts constituted a violation of the Section 21 of PECA. Further investigations are under way.