Special JIT formed over smear campaign against IHC CJ

JIT will be headed by FIA Cybercrime director and include representatives from ISI, IB and Islamabad Police

ISLAMABAD:

A Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has been formed on the issue of a smear campaign on social media against Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Interior, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, the Special JIT will be headed by the Director FIA Cybercrime and include representatives from Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Islamabad Police.

The Special Joint Investigation Team will submit a report to the Interior Ministry within 15 days. The FIA will provide secretarial support to the special JIT.

The Federal Ministry of Law and Justice on Sunday condemned the “social media attack" on the IHC chief justoce, declaring it as "utterly reprehensible".

“The social media attack by a political party on chief justice Islamabad High Court is utterly reprehensible. Political parties should refrain from attacking the Institutions of the country,” the ministry said in a rare brief message posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) also strongly condemned the "malicious social media campaign" targeting the judge.

“Justice Farooq, renowned for his unwavering commitment to principles of honesty and competence, has consistently demonstrated these qualities through his impartial and merit based judgments.

Also read: SCBA condemns contemptuous campaign against IHC CJ

“These relentless campaigns, driven by ulterior motives to tarnish his impeccable reputation, can only be perceived as a deliberate malevolent effort to undermine the stature of a distinguished judge and erode public trust in the judiciary,” the IHCBA statement said. “We are resolute in our determination to prevent such evil intentions from coming to fruition at any cost.”

The bar association urged the authorities to take swift and decisive action against the instigators of the malicious propaganda and for holding them accountable in the court of law.

“It is imperative that the true motives and the full extent of their disinformation efforts be exposed and addressed promptly,” it said.