The Lahore High Court has ruled that being a member or administrator of a WhatsApp group does not, by itself, constitute a crime or create criminal liability.
The court said a person who uploads, forwards or shares illegal or offensive content on WhatsApp will be responsible for their own actions. The ruling is significant for cybercrime cases because it clarifies how legal responsibility may be assessed for WhatsApp group members and admins.
Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh issued the 13-page decision while hearing the post-arrest bail petition of accused Syed Abdul Mannan in an FIA cybercrime case. The court rejected the bail plea and also directed the trial court to complete the proceedings at the earliest.
Group presence alone is not enough
According to the ruling, merely being present in a WhatsApp group, remaining silent, or holding the role of group admin is not sufficient to establish criminal responsibility.
The court observed that liability under criminal law must be linked to a specific act and supporting evidence. A person cannot be treated as responsible only because they are associated with a group where unlawful material may have been shared.
FIA report noted by court
The court found the FIA’s technical analysis report to be prima facie reliable. On that basis, the post-arrest bail petition filed by Syed Abdul Mannan was dismissed.
The Lahore High Court also declared the 13-page decision a judicial precedent and ordered the trial court to complete the case without unnecessary delay.
Also Read :Lahore: Motorcycle with 112 unpaid challans worth over Rs207,000 impounded
Today's E-Paper