A joint investigation team led by Islamabad’s police chief has booked Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) cadres for engaging in a nefarious social media campaign aimed at inciting violence in the country.
The JIT has summoned PTI figures including Mohammad Arshad, Atta-ur-Rehman, Azhar Mashwani, Komal Afridi, Arusa Nadeem Shah and M. Ali Malik for questioning on December 13, 2024.
The accused are accused of using social media platforms to spread disinformation and create chaos in Pakistan.
According to the JIT, the investigation is aimed at identifying the main motive of these people and their associates for organizing such a campaign.
“The investigation is to identify the people behind this disinformation campaign and understand their motives,” the JIT spokesperson said.
The federal government created a task force under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) in 2016 to combat crimes related to social media.
According to Section 30 of PECA, the team is under the supervision of IG Police Islamabad.
The JIT has gathered substantial evidence that the accused have contributed to spreading propaganda on social media and national instability. Further investigation is underway to identify additional suspects and take appropriate legal action under Pakistani law.
Earlier this year, the government set up a JIT to investigate those who created “chaos and mayhem” in the country through “malicious social media campaigns”.
The team includes the Director Cyber Crime of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Director Counter Terrorism Wing (CTW) of FIA, Deputy Inspector General of Investigation Islamabad and Director General of Police (SSP). Islamabad Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).
The JIT has been tasked to investigate the motives behind the malicious campaign against the state and identify the perpetrators and their facilitators who are trying to create chaos in Pakistan through social media.
According to the legal framework, the JIT will not only identify these people but also file a case against them.
The move comes days after the Home Minister announced the formation of a JIT to probe PTI’s alleged involvement in “anti-state propaganda”, the notification did not mention the party.
