The interim government has taken a decisive step by establishing a six-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to delve into the details of a damaging social media campaign directed at Supreme Court judges. According to a notification from the interior ministry, the committee operates under Section 30 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016.
Heading the JIT will be the Additional Director-General of the Federal Investigation Agency’s Cyber Crime Wing. The team comprises representatives from the Intelligence Bureau, Inter-Services Intelligence, the Deputy Inspector-General of Islamabad police, a delegate from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, and any other co-opted member.
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The interior ministry’s notification outlined that the JIT is mandated to furnish a preliminary report to the Ministry of Interior within two weeks. During the investigation, the FIA headquarters will provide additional support.
While the authorities did not specify particular social media posts linked to the alleged campaign, the JIT’s terms of reference include determining the facts surrounding the malicious social media effort aimed at tarnishing the image of the Supreme Court judges. The committee is also assigned to identify and prosecute the culprits in accordance with relevant laws, submit charges in appropriate courts, and propose preventive measures for similar incidents in the future.
Last week, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, affirmed the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to nullify the PTI’s electoral symbol ‘bat’ and labeled its intra-party polls as “unconstitutional.” This verdict drew criticism from legal experts and political analysts, with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan expressing concern over the judgment.
