ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government has established a 5-member joint investigation team (JIT) to probe an organized anti-state social media campaign.
Formed under Section 30 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, the JIT will be led by the Islamabad police chief.
It also includes two senior officials from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA): the Director of Cybercrime and the Director of the Counter-Terrorism Wing, alongside the Deputy Inspector General (Investigation) and the Senior Superintendent of Police (Counter-Terrorism Department).
A notification from the Ministry of Interior dated July 26 states that the JIT’s mandate is to “investigate and determine the organized objectives of those involved in creating disorder in Pakistan through malicious social media campaigns.” The team is tasked with identifying and prosecuting those responsible in accordance with relevant laws. The JIT may also appoint additional members as needed.
This move follows the government’s recent establishment of special courts to handle PECA cases. According to a notification from the Law Ministry, additional district and session judges, as well as civil judges from East and West, have been designated to oversee these special court trials.
Furthermore, the government is reportedly testing an internet firewall designed to filter out undesirable content and identify sources of propaganda.
Earlier reports say that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Information Secretary Raoof Hasan and other party members might face trial under the PECA Act. Hasan, arrested by Islamabad Police on Monday, remains in FIA custody following a court’s approval for a three-day extension of his physical remand.
Hasan, along with 11 other members of the PTI media cell, is facing charges related to operating a digital media cell allegedly involved in anti-Pakistan propaganda. The suspects, including two women, are charged under sections 9 (glorification of an offence), 10 (cyber-terrorism), and 11 (hate speech) of the PECA Act.
The suspects are Ahmad Waqas Janjua, Hasan, Afaq Ahmed Alvi, Hameedullah, Rashid Mahmood, Zeeshan Farooq, Syed Osama, Mohammad Rizwan Afzal, Mohammad Rafiq, Syed Hamza, Farhat Khalid, and Iqra.
According to the FIR filed by CTD Inspector Sajid Ikram, the suspects are accused of using social media to undermine Pakistan’s integrity and create a chaotic environment, with directives from Hasan allegedly aimed at inciting public unrest against the state and military.
