PTA has no automatic system to stop derogatory posts on social media: Senate body informed

Sharing of derogatory posts, especially against candidates contesting the general election 2018, will continue unabated as Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said on Friday that it has no automatic system to stop derogatory posts on social media. A senior official of PTA while briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Interior said that the authority is not so far equipped with an automatic system to detect derogatory posts on social media. "An amount of $20 million will be required for installation of automatic system to curb derogatory posts on social media," he replied when he was asked by Senator Rehman Malik, who presided over the meeting, how much funds will be required for installation of such system. However, he said that the authority has a web monitoring department which keeps eye over anti-state, blasphemous and hate speeches and takes action on complaint basis.
Director Federal Investigation Agency's Cyber Crime Wing, Muhammad Shoaib also told the committee that the agency has so for received 10 complaints regarding the issue filed by different politicians including Shehla Raza, Meer Muhammad Sadiq, Mian Tariq Mehmood, Senator Talha Mehmood, Ayseha Gulalai, Majid Zahoor and some others. "Taking action against those who post derogatory posts on social media is a lengthy process as the agency first gets court order and then launches complaint with Facebook management and other social media websites," he said, adding, "We could not launch complaint without court order as we have signed no agreement with Facebook and other social media websites. He further said, "PTA is fully authorized to take direct action against derogatory social media posts and FIA takes action on complaint basis as it is an investigating agency." He said that most of the political parties have set up their social media wings and some of their members upload posts on social media from abroad.
Senator Muhammad Ateeq Sheikh was of the view that it is imperative to take stringent measures in a few days before elections so that the elements that seek to damage any candidate's credibility could be taken to task.
Senator Malik asserted that the government of Pakistan must hold talks with international social media websites so that measures can be taken against the culprits. He stressed the need for the FIA and PTA to get together and devise a strategy for the immediate redressal of complaints. He also stressed to deal with cyber crime issues effectively, saying it is crucial to enhance the capacity of the Cyber Crime Cell.
Earlier, Senator Ateeq Sheikh raised the point that some elements are going scot-free and there is no proper deterrence against those who are involved in the negative and immoral use of social media.
Dr Azka Haleem, Medical Officer at Basic Health Unite, Fort Abbas, Bahawalnagar, informed the committee that the three girls who were earlier believed to have lost in Cholistan had been sexually abused before their deaths. Haleem, who had conducted the primary medical investigation on the three girls, revealed that the children had been sexually assaulted and did not die of starvation or a sandstorm in the desert. Malik said that the culprits involved in this heinous crime must be brought to justice.
The committee chairman issued special instructions for protection of the doctor and her family. He said that he would recommend the doctor for the Pride of Performance Award since she proved that duty towards Pakistan is above all. The committee instructed the Punjab police team from Bahawalnagar, which was totally unaware of the incident, to return on Monday next with details of the initial report that would be placed before a sub-committee under Senator Rana Maqbool.
The committee also ordered a probe into the sources that were used to pay the victims family Rs 2,500,000. He asserted that it was a shame that the police had been trying to subdue the matter.
The meeting was also attended by Senator Javed Abbasi, Senator Kulsoom Parveen, Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed and senior officers from Ministry of Interior, PTA and Punjab Police, and forensic expert Bahawalnagar.