Rs5m damages for defamatory social media posts

An Additional District and Sessions Judge-II, Dadu, has ordered a citizen to pay Rs5 million in damages to a medical officer for making unsubstantiated allegations against him on social media and directed him to post an unconditional public apology on his Facebook account.

The court ordered Mukhtiar Jatoi to pay the damages to Medical Superintendent of District Headquarters Hospital, Dadu, Dr Amjad Hussain Mastoi. It also directed Jatoi to keep the apology post on his Facebook account for 30 days and barred him from deleting it during that period.

On July 24, 2024, Jatoi had allegedly accused Dr Mastoi in social media posts and a live broadcast of possessing a fake MBBS degree and embezzling hospital funds.

Dr Mastoi subsequently filed a defamation suit before the local court under the Defamation Ordinance, 2002, seeking Rs20 million in damages.

During the proceedings, Jatoi claimed that his social media activity constituted journalistic work. However, the court observed in its order that he failed to establish his credentials as a journalist and could not produce evidence to substantiate the allegations made against the doctor.

After hearing the case, the court awarded Rs5 million in damages and ordered Jatoi to issue an unconditional public apology through his Facebook account.