The Senate Standing Committee on Interior Tuesday asked the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Ministry of Law and Justice to prepare a plan for taking up the issue of derogatory posts on Twitter with the US government. While presiding over the committee meeting, Senator Rehman Malik issued directives to the PTA, FIA and Ministry of Law to take up the issue of derogatory posts on Twitter with the US government.
An official of the PTA told the committee that the management of Twitter did not cooperate with them. The PTA official told the committee that they have written several letters to the management of Twitter about derogatory posts and informed them that this is violation of Pakistani laws but they did not reply.
Director FIA Cyber Crime Wing Muhammad Shoaib briefed the committee about the actions taken against the people involved in spread of objectionable and defaming contents on social media. The committee was unanimous that social media is the need of this era and the committee is not in favor of baseless limitations on its use but the use has to be regulated in such a manner that it does not hurt others through misuse as well as it does not harm anyone's respect in the society.
The committee also stressed that those who are spreading propaganda against the state and are using the platform to harm their opponents should be taken to task.
Senator Talha Mehmood asked the FIA officials what action is taken under what laws against those who misuse social media platforms.
Shoaib told that under the 2016 Act, a case is lodged and charge-sheet (challan) is submitted with the court and the person found guilty can be punished for a time period of 3 to 7 years. "A total of 550 FIRs have been lodged during the last two years," he added.
The parliamentary body also took notice of false accusations against Senator Talha on social media by some individuals and asked the FIA to investigate the matter. The committee also expressed deep sorrow over the death of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Ikramullah Gandapur and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) worker Yasir Kalhoro and offered prayers for them. The meeting was also attended by Senator Mian Ateeq Shaikh, Senator Talha Mehmood, Senator Kalsoom Parveen and officials from the Ministry of Interior and FIA.
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