JIT summons PTI propagandists over social media misuse
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A Joint Investigation Team (JIT) summoned individuals allegedly involved in a malicious social media campaign aimed at spreading chaos and unrest in Pakistan.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) has issued notices to the accused propagandists of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), directing them to appear on December 13.
The notices claim that the accused used social media to propagate malicious campaigns to create disorder in the country.
PTI's social media activists, namely Sabghatullah Virk, Muhammad Arshad, Atta-ur-Rehman, Azhar Mashwani, Komal Afridi, Aroosa Nadeem Shah, and M. Ali Malik, are included in the accused list.
The federal government, under Section 30 of the PECA Act 2016, formed a JIT under the IGP to investigate the motives behind these individuals' actions.
As per the channel report, the JIT is working to identify more social media suspects and take action against them under applicable laws in the country.
The JIT claims to have solid evidence of the accused spreading propaganda on social media to incite unrest and disruption in the country.
Two days ago, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) continued a nationwide operation against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) social media activists accused of propagating false narratives against state institutions and the armed forces.
The FIA has registered 153 cases and arrested 23 individuals so far. Lahore and other districts in Punjab reported 69 FIRs; Islamabad recorded 52, Karachi 16, Sukkur 4, Hyderabad 5, and Quetta 7.
Yesterday, the FIA arrested Shakeeb Qaimkhani, a PTI Youth Wing vice president and UC chairman from Hyderabad, for allegedly spreading false propaganda against state institutions. The FIA accused him of frequently posting fake narratives online.
On December 6, the FIA Cyber Crime Wing registered cases against seven individuals in Karachi for allegedly spreading anti-state content through WhatsApp groups and X accounts. The accused are Muhammad Sohail, Muhammad Junaid, Sheikh Muhammad Ihsan, Tariq Jamil, Syed Rizwan, Muhammad Ahmed, and Babar Azeem.
On December 2, the federal government formed a 10-member joint task force, led by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman, to identify individuals involved in anti-state activities online. The task force includes members from ISI, MI, IB, FIA, and the IT Ministry.
Reporter: Ahmed Mansoor