ISLAMABAD: After repeatedly expressing concerns over circulation of objectionable content on online platforms, the federal government has constituted a five-member joint investigation team (JIT) to probe organised anti-state malicious social media campaign.
The JIT, former under Section 30 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016, will comprise two senior Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials and will be headed by Islamabad police chief.
Other members of the panel include director cybercrime (FIA), director counter-terrorism wing (FIA), deputy inspector general (Investigation) and senior superintendent of police (Counter Terrorism Department).
According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Interior on July 26, the JIT will “investigate and determine the organised objectives of the accused and their accomplices who have created chaos and disorder in Pakistan through malicious social media campaign[s].”
The panel is also tasked to identify and prosecute the culprits in accordance with the applicable laws.
The JIT can also include any other co-opted member.
The development comes days after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government constituted special courts to conduct trials of cases under the Peca Act.
As per the Law Ministry’s notification, additional district and sessions judges, civil judge East and West have been given the authority to conduct trials in the special courts.
Furthermore, the government, which has time and again expressed concerns about anti-state content being disseminated online, is reportedly conducting a trial run of an internet firewall provisioning filters that will block unwanted content from reaching the masses.
The firewall will also be used to identify the locations from where the propaganda material is being originated