Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a 10-member joint task force to identify the perpetrators involved in malicious propaganda against the state.

“Consequent to the recent incidents of terrorism and vandalism, a massive malicious campaign has been orchestrated to discredit the state of Pakistan in general and security forces in particular,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said on Sunday.

The statement claimed that multiple domestic and foreign based media platforms are being used to “perpetrate concocted, baseless and inciting news implicating state apparatus for committing serious human rights violations.”

According to the statement, the campaign affected law and order situation in the country’s space. “To attract foreign audience, perpetrators of this inimical campaign attempted to create serious human rights violations through fictitious violent images and contents.”

The committee would comprise

1. Pakistan Telecom Authority chairman (Committee head)

2. Interior ministry joint secretary

3. Information and broadcasting ministry joint secretary

4. FIA Cyber Crime Wing Director

5. Information technology and telecommunications ministry IT director

6. Intelligence Bureau joint director

7. ICT Police DIG

8. ISI representative

9. MI representative

10. Any other member(s) co-opted by the JTF

The committee would identify individuals/ groups and organisations involved in creating and spreading fake and misleading news surrounding political miscreants in Islamabad from November 24 to 27 including entire media campaign related to the issue.

It would track and trace individuals/ groups whether in Pakistan or abroad, involved in the campaign and bring them to justice as per law of the land.

The committee would also suggest measures to bridge policy gaps. “The JTF shall present its findings within 10 days and bring perpetrators to justice at the earliest.”