Islamabad Police arrest man over social media post equating Tarnol Phatak to Strait of Hormuz

The Islamabad Police arrested a man for allegedly equating the Tarnol railway crossing to the Strait of Hormuz, it emerged on Friday. Washington has imposed a blockade on Iran's trade by sea, while Iran has prevented ships from sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway at the entrance to the Middle ​East Gulf. Nearly two months after the US and Israel began their war on Iran on February 28, there is little sign of peace ​talks resuming during an uneasy ceasefire. The closure of the strait has disrupted the supply of a fifth of the ⁠world's oil and gas supplies and caused a global energy crisis. A first information report registered at Tarnol Police Station by Sub-Inspector Shahid Asghar on Tuesday under Sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant), Section 341 (punishment for wrongful restrains) and Section 511 (punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or for a shorter term) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) said that the suspect posted content suggesting that blocking Tarnol Phatak in a manner similar to the Strait of Hormuz could help resolve prevailing issues. The FIR said that, in the context of the current national situation, such remarks amounted to a violation of Section 144, which was imposed in Islamabad to maintain public order and prevent actions that may incite unrest. Read: Islamabad maintains security lockdown amid uncertainty over US-Iran talks Acting on a tip-off from a special informant, the Tarnol police apprehended the suspect at Tarnol Chowk, the FIR added, saying that a subsequent examination of his mobile phone corroborated the information received. The FIR further said that the suspect violated the orders of the authorised authorities and incited the public to block Tarnol Phatak. It said the suspect was taken into custody and that legal proceedings had been initiated in accordance with the law. It added that strict action was being taken against individuals who spread content on social media that could disrupt peace or encourage unlawful activities. For nearly a week, the federal capital has been waiting for peace talks between the United States and ​Iran to take place there and large parts of the city ‌remain sealed off by authorities. Key roads leading into Islamabad are shut down, and a strict security cordon envelops the administrative centre, the so-called "Red Zone". In the adjacent "Blue Area", cafes have run out of fruit, markets are deserted and with no service at bus terminals, weekend commuters are struggling to get home. The current lockdown is the second in two weeks. Islamabad was first sealed off for talks between the US and Iranian delegations on April 11 that ended without a deal. The city briefly reopened, then locked down again as Pakistan waits to host a second round that has yet to materialise.

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