Cybercrime: Lahore police to propose new measures

Procedure on social media offences under FIA domain delays legal action

LAHORE:

Last week was marred with news of violence and crime incidents involving social media in the provincial capital.

Three youths were killed in Kahna after a dispute between two groups over a comment on a social media post. During the same week, the so-called ‘Bhatti group’ in Cantonment area came into spotlight for uploading videos of alleged torture on a youth, firing and display of weapons on a social media site. The suspects used to instigate fear among public by uploading such videos and pictures of violence on the site.

The trend of uploading such videos of assault has been rampant in the city. For a long period of time, the cases of uploading videos of firing, display of arms and posing threats to opponents were being reported almost on a daily basis.

Many cases had also led to bloody feuds, including the murder of the three youths in Kahna recently. Last year, a man was murdered for uploading a post on a social media site in the city. A few weeks ago, a video had surfaced in which a large number of people were holding a horse race on Canal Road and a large number of motorcyclists were seen. They could also be seen resorting to heavy firing into the air.

Cybercrime registers sharp decline amid Covid-19 lockdown

Reportedly, those uploading the videos would often elaborate on their steps and encourage, or rather instigate, other people to do so. In many cases, the suspects were also seen abusing the police along with their accomplices. The uploading of videos of torture of opponents had also been observed as a trend in the city.

Dozens of such cases had been reported over the past few years. A few groups promoting violence and crime were also active on social media platforms. Police registered cases and arrested hundreds of suspects involved in uploading such content. However, they faced legal obstructions and social media sites were usually, often ‘consciously’ ignored during the police action.

Police officials argue that they do not have jurisdiction to proceed against such activities on social media as it falls under the domain of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). However, FIA’s procedure to initiate action is tedious and lengthy.

Reportedly, FIA refrains from initiating legal action unless a complainant approaches it and the complaint is verified.

In such a scenario, Lahore police have decided to approach the government to review the measures regarding videos and pictures of crime uploaded on social media sites. Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Zulfiqar Hameed said that they had submitted detailed recommendations in this regard. “This is a good step indeed considering that there is a need to review the domains to pinpoint, discourage and bust the elements involved in such activities.”

The government should consider Lahore police’s recommendations in depth.

Ban on meeting inmates lifted

The recent lifting of restrictions on families of inmates from visiting them during the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown is a good news for certain segments of the society. However, allowing families to meet the inmates just after four months was also alarming amid risk of the contagion. Inmates in Punjab were encamped in jail facilities where opportunities to maintain physical distance were limited. Frequent interaction among jail staff, inmates, their family members and other visitors on a regular basis had put more citizens at risk of contracting coronavirus.

Thousands of cybercrime cases remain unresolved​​​​​​​

If the authorities concerned fail to implement the safety SOPs in letter and spirit, the possibility of a few inmates getting infected could lead to rapid spread of Covid-19 in the prisons. It is important that the authorities do not show any slackness in implementing precautionary measures during the meetings with inmate.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2020.