Just hours after PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz lodged a complaint with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against her fake and objectionable photos on social media, the federal government took action.
Crackdown was launched against the elements involved in defaming people through immoral videos.
According to the media reports, strict instructions have been issued by the Home Minister regarding the issue.
Interestingly, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz also expressed concern that she was awaiting action against a malicious campaign against her on social media.
In a recent Twitter message, Maryam Nawaz said that she has reported the matter to the authorities and is awaiting action.
Apparently photo-shopped photos and videos have been shared by some prominent Twitter accounts as well as some newly created accounts.
Immediately after Maryam Nawaz lodged a complaint and instructions were issued by the Interior Ministry, the FIA warned in a tweet that the agency was cracking down on fake videos.
An FIA spokesman said in a statement from the agency’s Twitter account that “the FIA has taken note of the fake videos on social media and has launched an investigation.”
He said that strict legal action would be taken against those involved in making and distributing these videos in the form of imprisonment and fines.
People are instructed to stop sharing these videos.
However, no confirmation was received regarding the next day’s action.
Experts, meanwhile, have criticized the country’s cyber crime control mechanism, claiming it is not a systematic way to deal with social media violations.
Nighat Daad, executive director of the Digital Rights Foundation, said: “The problem in this case is that everyone is moving just because someone has started violating the rights of an influential person.”
He said the case was similar to the case of PTI National Assembly member Kanwal Shozab and the FIA had actively pursued his complaint.
He further said that the important point that the authorities need to understand is why the Home Minister had to intervene as the report submitted by Maryam Nawaz herself was not taken seriously by the FIA. Or what will happen to any ordinary woman elsewhere, how will she put pressure on the FIA?
Most experts, including Nighat Daad, have urged the government to restructure the FIA’s cyber crime wing and redesign the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act if the issue of online harassment is to be addressed.