Facebook has destroyed our culture, SC remarks in girl blackmailing case

ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) – A Supreme Court bench on Wednesday dismissed the bail petition of criminal convicted of blackmailing girl on social media platform, Facebook.

Justice Ameer Hani Muslim, who was heading the two-member bench heard the plea.

Shagufta Amin, the applicant, had accused Muhammad Munir of blackmailing her on Facebook. However, during the hearing, the defense lawyer Masroor Shah told the apex court that Munir had made Facebook account on the girl's consent. He added that Shagufta used to study with his client and his ‘girlfriend'. "Both are in a relationship", he argued.

Referring to the defense lawyer’s explanation, Justice Muslim said that relationships in which friends are referred to as ‘girlfriends’ find roots in western culture. It is not Pakistan’s culture where opposite genders could have such relations, he remarked.

The justice also thrashed billion dollar social media enterprise Facebook in his remarks. The judge said that Facebook has destroyed our culture. Justice Ameer remarked, how could uploading immoral pictures amount to morality.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the apex court ordered the authorities to forward the case to trail court for a verdict in six months. The defense lawyer was asked to produce the challan for the accused within 14 days of the hearing.