PTI leader, YouTuber booked for 'anti-state propaganda'

Suspects accused of using social media against institutions from abroad

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ISLAMABAD:

The Cyber Crime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Islamabad has booked PTI leader Dr Shahbaz Gill and YouTuber Moeed Pirzada in separate cases for allegedly propagating anti-state activities and spreading propaganda against the state and its institutions on social media.

Both suspects are currently residing abroad but have been found involved in anti-state activities and propaganda. The investigation will determine the involvement of other accomplices.

The FIA has been conducting inquiries into their activities on social media. Upon confirming the allegations, two separate cases were registered under sections 9, 10, and 11 of the PECA-2016 Cyber Crime Act on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Muneeb Zafar. The charges include running a propaganda campaign against the government through TikTok accounts.

The FIRs state that Shahbaz Gill and Moeed Pirzada shared highly threatening content/videos on social media via TikTok, deliberately spreading misleading information to incite hostility against government officials and institutions. Their actions could potentially incite others to commit crimes against the state, its institutions, or public peace.

The suspects were found to have shared an anti-state narrative to create a pre-determined and false impression about the institutions, the FIRs further mention.

Their actions are considered equivalent to attempting to damage the state of Pakistan and incite rebellion. The threatening material/videos shared by the suspects aimed to foster discord among the pillars of the state. According to the sources in the FIA, the investigation will determine the role of other individuals involved and all legal proceedings will be completed against them.