Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing has initiated a nationwide crackdown on those who have used malicious campaigns and trends on social media to mock influential individuals and state institutions such as the Pakistan Army and Supreme Court.
Crackdown on social media activists of @PTIofficial for criticising military & judiciary on social media. 3 people arrested from Lahore & 8 from Faisalabad & Gujrat. FIA Cyber Crime wing says they have list of 50 activists who were operating 100s of anonymous/ fake accounts
— Mubashir Zaidi (@Xadeejournalist) April 12, 2022
According to FIA sources, the crackdown began late Saturday night (April 9) after Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was defeated in a vote of no-confidence in the National Assembly.
Imran Khan’s former digital media point person The first person whose home was invaded by law enforcement officials was Dr Arsalan Khalid. They had found mobile phones and other items that had remained in his possession.
Dr Arsalan escaped detention since he was not there at the time of the raid.
According to senior government sources, the decision to take action against all individuals participating in anti-army and anti-judicial campaigns/trends was made at the highest level even before the existing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) administration came office.
Section 500 of the PPC:
Anyone who defames another is subject to simple imprisonment for up to two years, a fine, or both.
Section 505: Statements that are likely to cause public annoyance:
(1) Anyone who produces, publishes, or distributes a statement, rumour, or report-
(a) with the intent to cause or incite any officer, soldier, sailor, or airman in Pakistan’s Army, Navy, or Air Force to mutiny, offence, or otherwise disregard or fail in his duty as such; or (b) with the intent to cause or incite any officer, soldier, sailor, or airman in Pakistan’s Army, Navy, or Air Force to mutiny, offence, or otherwise disregard or fail in his duty as such;
(b) with the intent of inducing fear or anxiety in the general public or any portion of the general public, so that any person may be induced to commit an offence against the state or against public peace;
(c) with the intent to incite, or with the likelihood of inciting, any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community, is punishable by imprisonment for a term of up to seven years and a fine.
(2) Whoever makes, publishes, or circulates any statement or report containing rumour or alarming news with the intent to create or promote, or is likely to create or promote, feelings of enmity, hatred, or ill-will between different religious, racial, language, or regional groups, castes, or communities on the basis of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste, or community, or any other ground whatsoever, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term.
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 Cyber Crime Wing has initiated a nationwide crackdown on those who have used malicious campaigns and trends on social media to mock influential individuals and state institutions such as the Pakistan Army and Supreme Court.){kind=link}