JIT formed to probe social media campaign against SC judges

Pakistan govt formed on Tuesday a six-member joint investigation committee (JIT) to investigate the alleged social media campaign against the SC  judges.

In a statement, the interior ministry said that the Federal Investigation Agency’s Cyber Crime Wing additional director general would be the convener of the committee. It also comprises representatives of the Intelligence Bureau, Inter-Services Intelligence, the deputy inspector general of Islamabad police, a representative of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and any other co-opted member.

The terms of reference of the JIT would be to “ascertain facts behind malicious social media campaign attempting to malign the image of the honourable judges of the Supreme Court,” stated the notification.

The committee would identify and bring culprits to book in accordance with relevant laws, presenting challans in relevant courts. It would also recommend measures to prevent such incidents in future.

“The JIT shall submit a preliminary report to the Ministry of Interior within a fortnight,” the notification said, “the FIA headquarters shall provide secretarial support to the JIT.”

The development comes days after the Supreme Court decided to strip former prime minister Imran Khan’s party of the bat symbol less than a month before next month’s general elections.

On Saturday, a three-member bench of the SC set aside the Peshawar High Court order that reinstated “bat” as the party’s electoral symbol. Consequently, the apex court upheld the December 23 order of the Election Commission of Pakistan that nullified the intra-party elections of the PTI.