The law enforcement agencies have arrested a man for allegedly running a social media campaign against Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, official sources said on Thursday.
They named the suspect as Abdul Wasay, a resident of Pindora area in Rawalpindi. The LEAs arrested him on February 20 for allegedly taking part in a threatening and smearing social media campaign against the CJP.
Last month, the interior ministry had constituted a five-member joint investigation team to “ascertain facts behind a malicious social media campaign” against Supreme Court judges.
The panel — formed under Section 30 (power to investigate) of the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016 — was convened by the additional director general of the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) cybercrime wing, according to an interior ministry notification.
The JIT was formed against the backdrop of a “smear campaign” on social media after the Jan 13 judgement of the apex court that upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to revoke the PTI’s iconic electoral symbol and declare its intra-party polls “unconstitutional”.
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In January, caretaker Information Minister Solangi said that authorities were investigating 600 accounts and inquiries were registered against as many as 100. Notices were issued to 110 individuals, including 32 journalists, and 22 politicians and political workers, he had told reporters.
The notices to the individuals were served in accordance with the law, Solangi said brushing aside reports regarding the harassment of journalists.
He also highlighted the legal process regarding the inquiry and investigation. “Simply visiting the FIA office does not lead to automatic arrest,” he said.
