ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday established a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe a “malicious” social media campaign aimed at defaming judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
In a statement from the Ministry of Interior, it was announced that a six-member JIT had been formed under the provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016. The team will be led by the Additional Director General (Cyber Crime Wing) of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and will include senior officials from the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), DIG Islamabad Capital Territory Police, and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. An additional co-opted official will also be a member.
The JIT has been assigned the task of uncovering the facts behind the malicious social media campaign attempting to tarnish the image of the honorable judges of the Supreme Court.
JIT to Investigate Campaign Against Supreme Court Judges
Its mandate includes identifying and bringing the culprits to justice in accordance with relevant laws and presenting charges in the respective courts. Moreover, the team is expected to recommend preventive measures against such incidents in the future. A preliminary report is to be submitted to the Ministry of Interior within 14 days.
This decision follows a recent verdict of the Supreme Court that declared the Peshawar High Court verdict regarding the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf electoral symbol bat null and void.
Earlier in the day, officeholders of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) demanded action against those responsible for the campaign targeting Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa.
The legal representatives emphasized that while judicial decisions can be criticized, personal attacks on judges should not be tolerated. They called on the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and FIA to take strict action against those involved in the social media campaign.
