CHITRAL: June 26, 2025: A case has been registered at Chitral City Police Station against a local man for impersonating a police officer and blackmailing citizens leading to his arrest.
Though the FIR stated that the suspect was sending inappropriate messages to citizens on Messenger and blackmailing them, no related sections of the law have so far been included in it.
The FIR (No. 224/25) has been registered under sections 170 and 171 of the Pakistan Penal Code on June 25, 2025. These two sections of the PPC relate to impersonation and wearing garb or carrying tokens used by public servants, respectively.
According to the FIR, Zohaib Ali, a resident of Singoor, was posing as a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) from Special Branch.
He also reportedly used a fake government service card to deceive the public and send inappropriate messages via Messenger, thereby blackmailing individuals online.
The police launched an investigation after receiving a tip-off from an intelligence source. The suspect was reportedly operating a computer and IT diploma center at Goldur Chowk, located about half a kilometer west of the city police station.
Police say the impersonation and misuse of official identity by the accused not only misled the public but also caused outrage and concern among local social media users and residents.
The First Information Report was registered by Station House Officer (SHO) Haidar Hussain, who stated that the matter is of a serious nature and falls under punishable offenses. Investigation has been handed over to investigating officer Azfar Alam.
Further action will be taken following the conclusion of the inquiry, said the police.
Two days ago, the man was taken into protective custody by the police after a chat between him and a woman went viral on social media. The conversation allegedly showed the man using his fake identity to exert pressure on the woman to meet him.
During police investigation, he claimed that someone had made a fake account with his name on social media.
An official had said an investigation was being conducted to verify the account before registration of a criminal case against the man. The registration of the FIR shows that he was falsely claiming that the account was fake.
The police later formally arrested him and obtained his remand from a court. An official said that a laptop and mobile phone of the man would be checked for further details in the case.