ISLAMABAD: To look into the coordinated anti-state harmful social media campaign, the federal government assembled a five-person joint investigative team (JIT).
The committee was established in accordance with Section 30 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016; two senior officers of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) have also been added to the panel, along with the head of police in Islamabad.
The other members of the committee are the senior superintendent of police (Counter Terrorism Department), deputy inspector general (Investigation), director of cybercrime (FIA), and director of counterterrorism wing (FIA).On July 26, the Ministry of Interior released a notification stating that the JIT would “investigate and determine the organised objectives of the accused and their accomplices who have created chaos and disorder in Pakistan through malicious social media campaign[s].”
Identifying and prosecuting the offenders in line with the relevant legislation is another duty assigned to the panel.
Any other co-opted members may also be a part of the JIT.
The event occurs a few days after the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif established special tribunals to try cases brought under the Peca Act.
Trials in the special courts may now be conducted by additional district and sessions judges, civil judge East, and civil judge West, in accordance with a notification from the Law Ministry.
