A district and sessions in Islamabad accused Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) Senator Azam Swati in a case relating to controversial tweets allegedly aimed at the country’s sensitive institutions, including the military.
The indictment was handed down by additional district and sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka on Saturday, who rejected the senator’s application for acquittal. SWATI pleaded not guilty to the charges during the case.
The court called prosecution testifies to the next consultation and postponed additional procedures until October 14.
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The case against Swati was initiated in November 2022 when Fia Cyber Crime Wing arrested him over tweets considered offensive to the military’s top management. According to the FIA, the PTI legislator had launched a “very disgusting campaign” on Twitter with alleged intent to honor and malignant state institutions.
FIR was registered by Fias Cyber Crime Reporting Center in Islamabad on a complaint filed by Technical Assistant Aneesur Rehman. It included sections from both the Law on the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (PECA) 2016 and the Pakistan Penal Code, such as section 131 (Abbetting Mutiny), 500 and 501 (defamation), 505 (public evil) and 109 (monkey).
The FIA maintained that tweets sent by SWATI were part of a malicious attempt to create turmoil and discredit institutions with “extreme motives.”
By 2023, Swati was declared a declared offender after not appearing before the court, which subsequently sent non-accessible arrest warrants against him.
