By Adnan Rafique
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday heard a bail petition filed by accused Tayyab Dar in a case involving the posting of obscene content against women on social media, and deferred it’s decision until next week. A two-member bench comprising Justice Jamal Mandokhail and Justice Musarrat Hilali took up the matter.
During the hearing, complainant’s counsel Rizwan Abbasi informed the court that the accused is named in the FIR and that evidence exists showing his involvement in spreading obscene material on social media. He argued that the posts targeting women were so vulgar that they could not even be read aloud in court.
Counsel for the accused contended that the objectionable Facebook posts were uploaded by the accused’s son, and therefore, the father could not be held responsible for the actions of his son.
However, he conceded that the SIM card used for the posts was registered in the name of the accused and was being used by his son. Justice Ja:mal Mandokhail observed that if the matter was so serious, children should not be given mobile phones, while Justice Musarrat Hilali questioned whether the accused was ever unaware of the activities being carried out through his phone number.
The complainant’s counsel further informed the court that, according to the investigation report, both the father and son used the same mobile phone. Justice Musarrat Hilali remarked that the documentary evidence was against the accused. Justice Jamal Mandokhail observed that if such an offence is proven, the court would have to take a strict view, as no one is allowed to damage another person’s dignity.
The complainant’s counsel requested additional time to submit further documents and opposed the grant of bail. Accepting the request, the court adjourned the hearing until next week and deferred the decision on the bail petition.
