MANSEHRA: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on Tuesday arrested two social media activists affiliated with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on charges of allegedly running defamatory and immoral social media content against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Syeda Sonia Hussain.
Ms Hussain told reporters that she had formally approached the NCCIA seeking legal action against PTI workers who, she alleged, used social media platforms to challenge her political standing and engage in character assassination. “I cannot tolerate the character assassination of myself and my family through such immoral posts. It is my legal right to seek action against those involved,” she said.
According to Ms Hussain, NCCIA officials conducted raids at various locations in the district following her written complaint and arrested two individuals identified as Majid Shah Tirmazi and Majid Shah. She also shared screenshots of what she described as objectionable posts circulated on social media, claiming they were part of an organised campaign by the PTI’s social media wing against her and her family.
The lawmaker said that no individual, regardless of gender, could accept such personal attacks and that legal redress was the only appropriate response. She maintained that criticism should remain within political boundaries and not descend into personal vilification.
Meanwhile, PTI MPA Akramullah Ghazi condemned the arrests and termed them politically motivated. Addressing reporters, Mr Ghazi, who is also the district president of PTI, appealed to party workers to remain peaceful while demanding the immediate release of the detained activists.
“The NCCIA is a federal agency, and we believe these arrests are unwarranted,” he said, adding that PTI did not wish to escalate the situation. However, he warned that the party knew how to respond politically if its workers were not released.
Mr Ghazi claimed that a peaceful political environment prevailed in Mansehra and accused the PML-N of attempting to disturb it through what he described as unnecessary actions. He urged political parties to tolerate criticism and avoid personal attacks, saying that turning politics into a personal matter would not benefit anyone.
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Separately, the district administration issued directives to ensure the safety of tourists visiting Shogran following recent snowfall in the high-altitude areas of the Hazara division. Balakot Assistant Commissioner Hasrat Khan said the safety of visitors was the administration’s top priority.
He inspected the Rescue 1122 station and met police and Kaghan Development Authority officials, directing them to remain vigilant and ensure the Mansehra–Naran–Jalkhad Road and its link to Shogran remained open and safe. He warned that tourists would not be allowed to travel to Shogran without chained four-wheel-drive vehicles due to icy and hazardous road conditions.
A local resident, Seerat Hazarvi, urged the authorities to reopen the Shogran–Siri Paye track, at least for trekkers, to allow visitors to experience the snow-covered Koh-i-Makra range.
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