Islamabad police to monitor social media platforms during Muharram

Islamabad police will monitor social media platforms during Muharram to keep an eye on hatemongers, the department said on Thursday.

The ICT police have established a media cell to monitor the hate messages in WhatsApp groups and other social media platforms. 

An official said the Additional Inspector General (AIG) Operations will supervise the media cell.

According to the police, the cybercrime cell would lodge the first information report (FIR) against those who would be found involved in sharing hate content on social media, including Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and other sites during Islamic month.

Earlier, the Punjab government had requested suspending social media platforms during the Ashura.

A meeting of the Standing Committee of the Cabinet decided to suspend social sites from 6 to 11 Muharram.

However, the Interior Minister was not in favour of suspending social media platforms.

The Ashura procession would be held on 7,8, 9, and 10 Muharram across the country to commemorate the martyrdom of Hazrat Hussain (R.A) and his companion.

To maintain order in the law and order situation, the government decided to deploy heavy security across the country. 

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also approved the request of the Sindh government to provide the army and frontier corp during Ashura processions.