Azam Swati acquitted in tweet-related cases

ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Wednesday acquitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Senator Azam Swati in two cases related to controversial tweets.

The cases were originally registered in November 2022 after the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing arrested Swati for posting tweets deemed offensive towards the military leadership.

Following the establishment of the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in April 2025, the cases were transferred to the new body for further proceedings.

According to the FIA, Swati’s tweets were part of a “malicious campaign” aimed at creating unrest and discrediting state institutions for “ulterior motives”.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka, who announced the verdict, dismissed both cases filed under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca).

Swati had faced multiple cases across the country for his remarks against senior military officers. He was first arrested by the FIA on October 13, 2022, for allegedly posting a hateful and threatening message against the then-army chief, judiciary, and other state institutions on his official X account.

Although he was granted bail, the FIA rearrested him on November 27 the same year for allegedly using abusive language against the top military brass.

On December 2, 2022, Balochistan police also detained Swati in a similar case registered in Quetta. At the time, he was already on judicial remand in Adiala Jail and was shifted to Quetta under a transit remand.

The Balochistan High Court (BHC) later ordered the quashing of all cases registered against the senator in the province. Soon after, Sindh police took him into custody in connection with similar charges, but the Sindh High Court also directed the quashing of all such cases.

Swati was finally released from jail on January 3, 2023, after securing relief in all cases linked to his controversial tweets.