The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested Senator Azam Swati for starting “a highly obnoxious campaign of intimidating tweets against state institutions”, accusing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader of attempting to create a rift among the armed forces of the country.
The senator has been sent on two-day physical remand. He was produced before the court on Sunday morning following his arrest by the FIA.
This is the second time in less than two two months that the agency has brought legal action against Swati for allegedly tweeting against the army. He was previously arrested in October on the same charges.
The FIR, a copy of which is available with Digital Rights Monitor (DRM), was registered on Saturday by the state through Anees ur Rehman, technical assistant at the FIA’s Cybercrime Reporting Centre (CCRC) in Islamabad. Swati has been booked under Section 20 (offences against the dignity of a natural person) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (PECA); Sections 109 (punishment of abetment), 131 (abetting mutiny, or attempting to seduce a soldier from his duty), 500 (punishment for defamation), 501 (printing or engraving material known to be defamatory), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
The FIR states that Swati connived with @Wolf1Ak, @HaqeeqatTV_20, @Azaadi99 on Twitter and started a campaign against the armed forces, including the outgoing Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa. The details in the complaint allege the senator shared and endorsed tweets targeting the military and used strong language against state officials.
“Through such tweets by Senator Azam Khan Swati and comments on instigating tweets, [the] accused attempted to seduce army personnel from their allegiance from their duties as subordinates,” says complaint, adding that Swati attempted to create a “feeling of ill-will pillars of the state”. The FIA has also levelled allegations of violations of privacy and intimidation of army personnel against Swati.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has prohibited TV channels from airing Swati’s speeches, press conference and other media appearances, directing them against inviting him as a guest on shows as well. The decision was taken under Section 27(a) of the PEMRA (Amendment) Act, 2007.
“In case of any violation observed licence may be suspended under Section 30 (3) of PEMRA Ordinance 2002 as amended by PEMRA (Amendment) Act 2007, without any show cause notice in the public interest along with other enabling provisions of law,” said PEMRA.
The prohibition order cited Swati’s recent speech at the PTI’s long march in Rawalpindi in which the senator “made aspersions against the state institutions by leveling baseless allegations”. The speech went on air without any editorial control and effective utilisation of delay mechanism, the order, dated November 26, added.
Swati’s arrest has been condemned by a number of PTI leaders, including party chief and ousted prime minister Imran Khan.
“I am shocked and appalled at how rapidly we are descending into not just a banana republic but a fascist state,” Khan tweeted. “How can anyone not understand the pain and suffering Senator Swati underwent with custodial torture and blackmailing video of him and his conservative wife sent to his family?”
I am shocked & appalled at how rapidly we are descending into not just a banana republic but a fascist state. How can anyone not understand the pain & suffering Senator Swati underwent with custodial torture & blackmailing video of him & his conservative wife sent to his family?
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 27, 2022
“The fear of Azam Swati’s criticism is such that he has been arrested again,” said Chaudhry Fawad Hussain. “If you kidnap people illegally, torture them, make videos of their women, then you would expect them to be afraid. But here the issue is beyond fear. Such tactics will only give rise to hatred.”
اعظم سواتی کی تنقید سے اتنا خوف کہ انھیں پھر گرفتار کر کیا گیا، اگر آپ لوگوں کو غیر قانونی طور پر گراغوء کریں گے ان پر تشدد کریں گے ان کی خواتین کی ویڈیوز بنائیں گے تو ان سے آپ خوفزدہ ہونے کی توقع کرتے ہوں گے لیکن اب معاملہ خوف سے نکل گیا ہے ایسے ہتھکنڈے صرف نفرتیں پیدا کریں گے https://t.co/Iu9tB3WKvT
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) November 27, 2022
Other PTI leaders who called out the state for Swati’s arrest include Shireen Mazari and Asad Umar.
