Obscene video on digital screens in Karachi's DHA sparks outrage

Police lodge case, arrest suspect

The police registered a criminal case and arrested a suspect on Thursday after an obscene video was played on digital advertising screens in Karachi's Defence Housing Authority (DHA), sparking anger among locals.

Earlier, residents staged protests after the obscene video appeared on the screens. Authorities said that, as a precautionary measure, digital screens installed on other major roads in DHA, as well as on Shahrah-e-Faisal and Karsaz Road, were temporarily shut down.

South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Asad Raza, while speaking to Express Tribune, said that during the investigation, police arrested a company employee who stated that "another video already stored on his mobile phone was mistakenly played on the SMD screens".

“The suspect further told investigators that the actual videos sent by the company for advertising purposes were saved on his mobile phone,” Raza said, adding that the interrogation of the arrested suspect was continuing.

The case was registered at the Gizri Police Station under Section 292 (sale of obscene books) of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of the company’s legal adviser, Shakir Ali.

The complaint stated that an inappropriate video was broadcast on a digital screen installed on a pole near the Ayesha Manzil signal on Khayaban-e-Ittehad.

According to the first information report, the company’s operations director informed Ali by phone at 9:37am on Wednesday that an obscene video was running on the screen. The complainant said he went to the site himself and had the screen switched off.

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The complaint added that the company’s management suspected that one or more employees had gained unauthorised access to the system and played the video with the intention of defaming the company.