Pakistan

Rawalpindi police launch drive against hate speech

Anyone posting negative content to be tried under Anti-Terrorist Act

Saleh Mughal June 29, 2019

Islamabad Police. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Muhammad Faisal Rana has issued directions for an operation to be conducted against those involved in spreading any sort of hate speech, be it in the form of publishing, wall chalking or uploading derogatory posts on social media.

Police will not tolerate any such activity. The execution of the national action plan shall be carried out exactly as per the requirements of the SOPs issued by the interior department. This was said by the CPO while addressing the field officers of the Rawalpindi Police in a meeting.

The CPO added that the society cannot afford the spread of hate and disorder, or any kind of racial or religious discrimination, for even a spark of senseless outrage can turn into a fire which can affect society negatively. “It is our task to extinguish any such sparks completely and deal strictly with those who add fuel to the fire. Under the supervision of respective SDPOs and SPs It is vital that the SHOs of Rawalpindi Police take swift action against those who promote hate speech, wall chalked slogans and people who upload negative content on social media.

“I will personally monitor this operation and will be inquiring of the progress separately from Divisional SPs, SDPOs and SHOs. Anyone who uploads hateful content on social media or shares it will be subjected to face the cases against them according to the anti-terrorist act as per the national action plan.”

Moreover, the CPO added that such individuals will be arrested immediately. The same action shall be taken against those admins who manage WhatsApp groups where such hatred is spread premeditatedly. The admins of those groups will face a trial and prison. Facilitators and abettors of such criminals will be dealt with the same attention and prosecution as per the law, he said.

No leniency will be shown to those engaging in this practice, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2019.