Capital police take action against online hate

Violent Extremism Prevention unit monitored 700 social media accounts: CPO

ISLAMABAD:

Following the special directions of Islamabad Capital City Police Officer (ICCPO) Dr Akbar Nasir Khan, the Islamabad Capital Police Violent Extremism Prevention unit intensified its crackdown on social media platforms to combat the spread of religious, sectarian and linguistic hatred and propaganda against institutions, a police public relations officer said.

He said the Violent Extremism Prevention unit thoroughly monitored social media and traced more than 700 accounts of X, Facebook and other platforms spreading religious, terrorism-related material and wrote to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) urging the closure of those accounts among which more than 200 accounts have been blocked.

ICCPO Dr Akbar Nasir Khan said, with an unwavering commitment to curbing extremism without discrimination, the Islamabad Capital Police Violent Extremism Prevention unit has taken swift action against individuals promoting hateful ideologies on various social media platforms.

He further said that the establishment of this pioneering anti-extremism unit within the Islamabad capital police underscores the city's firm resolve to address the menace of extremism comprehensively.

In addition to proactively engaging with educational institutions, seminaries and masjids to counter extremist narratives, the unit diligently monitors social media and websites for political, linguistic, sectarian, and religious extremist content.

This unit is the first of its type in Pakistan which was established in Islamabad Capital Police by the (ICCPO) and was inaugurated by the National Coordinator (NACTA) recently.

The ICCPO urged the citizens to refrain from engaging in activities that propagate hatred or spread misinformation about institutions on social media.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2023.