Lahore court acquits Farhan Asif in fake news case linked to UK riots

A Lahore court on Monday acquitted a man who had been charged with spreading misinformation that allegedly contributed to widespread rioting in the UK earlier this month, officials reported.

The ruling came less than a week after 32-year-old web developer Farhan Asif was arrested in a raid on his home in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, and charged with cyberterrorism.

Following Monday’s hearing, the judge ordered Asif’s release, allowing him to walk free. Asif explained to the court that he had deleted the social media post in question within six hours of realizing it was inaccurate.

Defense lawyer Rana Rizwan told reporters that federal investigators admitted they lacked evidence to prove Asif had intentionally spread misinformation.

The Federal Investigation Agency had accused Asif of disseminating false information on YouTube and Facebook concerning a British teenage suspect involved in a stabbing attack on July 29 at a dance class in northwest England, which resulted in the deaths of three girls and injuries to 10 others.