An Additional District and Sessions Court-II in Dadu ordered citizen Mukhtiar Jatoi to pay Rs 5 million in damages to Dr Amjad Hussain Mastoi, Medical Superintendent of District Headquarters Hospital, Dadu, over unsubstantiated allegations made against him on social media.

The court also directed Jatoi to issue an unconditional public apology on Facebook and keep the post online for at least 30 days.

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

Dr Mastoi had filed a defamation suit seeking Rs 20 million in damages. Jatoi claimed the posts were part of journalistic activity, but the court found that he failed to establish his journalistic credentials or provide credible evidence supporting the allegations.

The court ruled the claims were baseless and defamatory and barred Jatoi from making further defamatory or unverified statements against Dr Mastoi.