Pranksters may face criminal litigation

Around 77 cases were lodged against prank callers while 11 were registered on complaints of citizens’ intimidation

LAHORE: The recent trend of performing pranks among the youth on social media has turned into a common activity in the city. Prank videos became popular online after video clips of old prank television shows became viral on social media platforms.

In recent months, pranks have become more localised as Youtubers in the country turn to perform pranks in public spaces such as parks and bazaars. It is, however, important to know what a prank activity actually is.

When a person sitting on a bench in a park or taking a walk in a public place comes across a stranger who behaves in an awkward manner or asks irrelevant questions, only to cause the victim to experience embarrassment, perplexity or discomfort, the activity becomes a prank performance, locally referred to in Urdu as ‘Mazaak’. Similarly, if a person receives a call from a stranger who plays tricks on the person and uploads the victim’s reaction on a social media platform, the act becomes a prank call.

However, very few people are aware that uploading a prank video or posting audio clips of prank phone calls on social media can land the prankster in jail.

According to records of Lahore police, 77 cases were lodged against pranksters for making inappropriate calls while 11 cases were registered on complaints of citizens’ intimidation by wearing a scary mask in the city.

Social Media Activist Zunair Rafiq told The Express Tribune that the trend of prank calls started six years ago on radio in which a young man called on an unknown number, pranked and recorded the person and uploaded the person’s reaction online. “The prank clip went viral on social media and the prankster was offered an entertainment programme on television in which the prankster would perform in public places and record the activity on a hidden camera.”

He added that during the prank activity, the prankster continued his tricks until the victim became angry after which they were told that the activity is a recorded one and that this is only a prank. Rafiq maintained that nowadays anyone can download mobile applications and earn through advertisements by running their own pages on Facebook and channels on YouTube. “The consequences of pranking someone and uploading video online may be dangerous for the prankster.”

In December 2018, residents of Lytton Road were filming a prank activity during which one of the pranksters was shot dead by the victim. The deceased Zohair was intimidating people on the road by impersonating a ghost with his friend Hasnat and Saboor. During filming, a clash occurred between the pranksters and victims and an unidentified man opened fire, killing Zohair on the spot. The victim’s father Rana Shoaib said that his son used to make videos with his friends.

After the murder, both of his friends along with others were investigated and the police arrested the suspects with the help of eyewitness. The arrested suspects said during their initial investigation that they were involved in a long-running dispute with some people due to which they keep weapons with them for safety. They added that the prank played on them caused anxiety after which they opened fire out of frustration.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Ismail Kharak said that prank activities are normalised in Western countries but if you suddenly perform a prank with someone in this country, people usually express frustration or some other negative reaction. “The youth is more involved in such entertainment activities these days but they should be very cautious of the negative consequences of pranks.”

The SSP explained that the police lodge cases against the pranksters under Sections 506 and 25D after receiving complaints from victims.

Law expert Syed Farhad Ali Shah said that 25D is a Telegraph Act in which the accused can be imprisoned for two years on complete evidence while under Section 506 the accused can be imprisoned for seven years.

“There are many ways of performing pranks on anyone and impersonating any one’s character. Social media is used commonly these days and many unpleasant incidents have occurred where pranksters were assaulted. Even a man lost his life.”

The expert added that the law should be changed and such cases should be investigated as cybercrimes. “People should know what the limit of making fun of any person is.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 08^th, 2019.