Five PTI leaders are supposed to appear today (Monday) before a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing a smear campaign launched on social media against state institutions.
The JIT has directed Hammad Azhar, Aliya Hamza, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Muhammad Kamran and Farrukh Habib to appear in person at 11am before it. The JIT will convene its meeting at the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) Cybercrime Wing Headquarters in Islamabad.
According to the notices issued by JIT member and Inquiry officer Mobin Zafar on April 9, there is sufficient material available with the JIT to assume that the PTI leaders are involved or closely acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the matter at hand.
"In case of non-appearance, it will be assumed that you have nothing to present or state in your defense. Non-compliance to the matter is punishable under law.
Therefore, your willful non-obedience of the order will render you liable for criminal proceedings u/s 174 PPC, 1860," it added.
The PML-N led federal government constituted the JIT in terms of Section 30 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016 under the convenership of the FIA Cyber Crime Wing additional director general.
The JIT is investigating alleged misuse of social media "for highly intimidating contents/ tweets to create fear/ unrest among the general public and discord against state institutions".
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