ISLAMABAD: To look into a “malicious” social media campaign against the judges of the Pakistani Supreme Court, the caretaker federal government on Tuesday established a joint investigative team (JIT).
In accordance with Section 30 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, the federal government is happy to establish a Joint Investigation Team (JIT), according to the Ministry of Interior’s notification.
The Federal Investigation Agency’s Additional Director General (Cyber Crime Wing) will lead the six-person inter-institution investigative team, according to the notification.
Additionally, it would comprise senior representatives from Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, DIG Islamabad Capital Territory Police, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and Intelligence Bureau (IB). Members will also include a co-opted official.
According to the notification, the team made up of senior officials has been entrusted with investigating the truth behind hostile social media operations that aim to “malign the image of honourable judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.”
The official document said, “To identify and bring the culprits to book in accordance with relevant laws and cause presentation of challans in the concerned courts.”
The team is also expected to present a preliminary report to the Ministry of Interior in a fortnight (14 days) and recommend preventative steps against the recurrence of similar situations in the future.
The ruling was made subsequent to a ruling by the highest court that did not support the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The Supreme Court’s ruling drew harsh criticism.
Officeholders of the Supreme Court Bar Council (SCBA) and Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) called for action against people in charge of a campaign against Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa during a press conference earlier in the day in Islamabad.
The PTA and the FIA should take “strict action” against such elements, according to the officer bearers of the bodies.
Shahzad Shaukat, the president of the SCBA, stated that while the judges of the supreme court may face criticism for their decisions, they should not be singled out for personal attack. “Court critics will not be tolerated by attorneys.” When it is stated in the order that PTI did not hold elections,
If there was a problem with the supreme court’s ruling, PBC Vice President Haroon Ur Rasheed said it ought to be brought up.
“I beg lawyers and the nation to criticize the verdict but not to ridicule the judges. The PTI forbade its own members from running in intra-party elections.”
The PBC Executive Committee Chairman, Hasan Raza Pasha, claimed that PTI’s attorneys were unprepared for the nine-hour session. He did point out that the party had the option to appeal the ruling, though.
“There are two sides to this decision: the legal side states that intra-party elections were required to obtain relief, while the moral side holds that the PTI should have been granted the bat symbol.”
