Provincial chief minister charged with defamation of Pakistan's state institutions

Pakistan's federal cybercrime agency has filed criminal charges against the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, accusing him of spreading false information about government institutions on social media.

Muhammad Sohail Afridi, the top elected official in the northwestern province and a member of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, faces allegations under the country's electronic crimes law for statements he made in a video recorded outside Adiala Jail in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, adjacent to the capital, Islamabad.

Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency filed a formal complaint, known as a First Information Report (FIR), at its reporting center in Islamabad on Sunday, invoking multiple sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act of 2016. The charges relate to the alleged spread of false, derogatory and intimidating content targeting state institutions.

The complaint, registered by Anees ur Rehman of the agency, invokes Sections 11, 20 and 26-A of the law. The charges stem from statements Afridi made in a video titled "Media Talk Outside Adiala Jail," distributed on social media platforms including YouTube and X, formerly Twitter, through Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's official accounts.

What did he say?

In the video recorded on November 7 outside Adiala Jail—where he had been denied a meeting with jailed PTI founder Imran Khan—Afridi made statements about security forces that immediately sparked controversy.

"Security forces used to tie dogs inside our mosques. We were told there's no difference between dogs and us," Afridi said in the video, also accusing security personnel of "disrespecting mosques" and "using fake videos for propaganda."

The remarks drew swift condemnation from government officials and even former PTI members. Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi said the comments dishonored the sacrifices of more than 1,000 security personnel who died in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi warned such rhetoric could embolden militant activity amid rising terrorist threats in the region.

Former PTI Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, who has since parted ways with the party, urged Afridi to exercise restraint, warning the remarks could undermine efforts for Imran Khan's release and damage relations with state institutions.

'Malafide intentions'

The FIR alleges that Afridi and others "knowingly and deliberately, with malafide intentions and ulterior motives," leveled false and misleading accusations against state institutions.

The statements, as outlined in the FIR, were designed to defame and undermine the reputation and integrity of Pakistan's state institutions and were circulated with the intent to "create public unrest and destabilize national security."

Investigators allege the content violated multiple provisions of PECA. Section 11 covers hate speech, criminalizing the preparation or dissemination of information intended to advance interfaith, sectarian, or ethnic hatred. Section 20 deals with offences against a person's dignity, including spreading false or defamatory information through electronic means. Meanwhile, Section 26-A targets the misuse of social media and the promotion of statements deemed prejudicial to Pakistan's integrity, security, or defense.

The FIR additionally asserts that the remarks made by the accused were "false, fake, and misleading" and formed part of "an organized attempt to undermine public trust in state institutions."

Assistant Director Imran Haider of the NCCIA, the signatory on the FIR, stated that Sub-Inspector Waseem Khan would lead the investigation. The complaint indicates there was "no delay" in registering the case, which stemmed from an internal NCCIA inquiry that concluded on November 8, 2025.

Copies of the FIR have been forwarded to the relevant authorities for further action.