Pakistan's Crackdown: Arrest Over Army Criticism

A woman government officer in Pakistan was arrested for criticizing the Pakistan Army and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government in a WhatsApp group. The arrest highlights the ongoing crackdown on dissent under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), which has met with substantial opposition from journalist bodies and civil society.

In a striking development, a female officer from Pakistan's National Database and Registration Authority has been apprehended for voicing criticism against the Pakistan Army and the Shehbaz Sharif-led government. The incident transpired in a WhatsApp group amid escalating military tensions with India.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), Hina Sheikh was charged by the National Cyber Crime Agency under various sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) for making derogatory comments. These comments allegedly incited public unrest and attempted to create division between state institutions and the populace.

This arrest is part of a broader governmental crackdown under PECA, affecting journalists, vloggers, and activists associated with Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf. Criticisms label PECA as repressive, prompting calls for its immediate repeal from media and civil society entities.

(With inputs from agencies.)