District admin forces social media user to apologize for comment

BOONI: The district administration of Upper Chitral forced a social media user to tender an unconditional apology for writing an “indecent” comment against an additional assistant commissioner on a Facebook post.

The administration also posted the handwritten apology of the social media user on its Facebook page on March 16.

It said on March 10, the DC Upper Chitral shared on its page a picture of Dr Zohra Wali Khan [of Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Booni] receiving a best performance certificate from the additional assistant commissioner.

“A person named Muhammad Arbakan Rafi from Gaht village of Mulkhow in his comment on the post used indecent language against the district administration. The district administration decided to take legal action against the person. But the person concerned along with notables of his area met the AC and tendered written apology from the district administration and promised to refrain from such practice in future. Hence the matter was resolved,” said the district administration.

Social media users criticized the district administration and termed its overreaction a violation of the right to freedom of expression guaranteed in the Constitution.