FIA launches crackdown against activists running malicious campaigns against state institutions

LAHORE: Cyber Crime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched a countrywide crackdown against all those people who have been involved in ridiculing powerful individuals and state institutions including Pakistan Army and Supreme Court through running malicious campaigns and trends on social media, Bol News has learnt.

According to sources in the FIA, the crackdown was launched on the night of Saturday (April 9) soon after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan had lost the vote of no-confidence motion in the National Assembly.

Former focal person of Imran Khan on digital media Dr Arsalan Khalid was the first person whose residence was raided by the law enforcement agencies. They had recovered mobile phones and other equipment which remained in his use.

Dr Arsalan escaped arrest as he was not present at the house when the raid was conducted.

Read more: FIA director investigating Shehbaz and Jahangir Tareen goes on leave

FIA cyber crime officials have also told Bol News that lists of all the accused have been prepared and actions have been started across the country. They said several arrests have also been made in various cities including Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujrat, etc. The officials further said the Counter Terrorism Wing (CTW) of the FIA has also been fully on board for such actions.

Another senior government official said that they were taking actions against social media activists but they were in a fix as to under what sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) such cases should be registered after the decision of the Islamabad High Court wherein over 7000 cases and enquiries registered under Section 20 of the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 had already been closed by the FIA. He said Islamabad has asked them to ‘somehow manage it for the time being’.

To a question, he said it was being considered to take actions against accused social media activists for running malicious social media campaigns against individuals and institutions under sections 505 and 506 of the PPC). He further said section 500 of the PPC related to defamation can also be incorporated but it would make the offence non-cognizable.

Section 500 of the PPC: Punishment for defamation:

Whoever defames another shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

Section 505: Statements conducing to public mischief:

(1)   Whoever makes, publishes, or circulates any statement, rumour or report-

(a)   with intent to cause or incite, or which is likely to cause or incite, any officer, soldier, sailor, or airman in the Army, Navy or Air Force of Pakistan to mutiny, offence or otherwise disregard or fail in his duty as such; or

(b)   with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the state or against the public tranquillity; or

(c)   with intent to incite, or which is likely to incite, any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and with fine.

(2)   Whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statement or report containing rumour or alarming news with intent to create or promote, or which is likely to create or promote, on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever, feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and with fine.

Section 506 of the PPC: Punishment for criminal intimidation:

Whoever commences the offence of criminal intimidation shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years or with fine or with both.

On the other hand, SHO Anti-Corruption Circle Lahore Benish Rehman, talking to Bol News has also rejected rumours that her circle was investigating PTI chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on the charges of selling a gold ornament from Toshakhana which he had received as gift from a Middle Eastern country.

“No, no such inquiry is registered in FIA Lahore,” she maintained.