NCCIA summons four over 'false, fabricated' allegations against Sharjeel Memon

The individuals directed to appear in person before the investigating officer at the NCCIA Karachi office on August 13

KARACHI:

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Karachi on Tuesday issued notices to four individuals over "false, fabricated and malicious propaganda" against Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and his son in connection with the murder case of Wafflix owner Mir Raza Ali.

The notices, issued under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), were served on Syed Abdullah, Amin Qureshi, Bilal Warsi and Obaid Qureshi, directing them to appear before the agency on August 13.

According to the notices, the four individuals were directed to appear in person before the investigating officer at the NCCIA Karachi office at 11:30am on August 13. They were also asked to bring their original CNICs, relevant evidence and documents in their defence, record their statements and submit their digital devices.

The notices warned that failure to comply could lead the agency to initiate legal proceedings before the competent court.

Read: Sharjeel moves NCCIA over online ‘malicious’ propaganda against him

Memon files complaint in NCCIA

Memon had approached the NCCIA on August 9 through his lawyer, Advocate Syeda Malaika Naqvi, after a series of social media posts allegedly linked him and his son to the death of young Wafflix owner Mir Raza Ali.

The complaint specifically referred to four Facebook accounts and pages — Muhajir Community, Khan Zada in ALTAFI LUSHKAR Group, Karachi Beauty and Karachi Stories — and included screenshots of the material as annexures.

According to the complaint, posts, videos and statements began circulating on August 9 containing allegations that a guesthouse in Gulistan-e-Johar, where Mir Raza was allegedly tortured and killed, was owned by Memon.

Other posts allegedly claimed that Memon’s son, Rawal, had left for London immediately after the incident and was subsequently seen moving around with a bodyguard.

The complaint also alleged that social media users had sought to create the impression that the medical board investigating the case had been changed “overnight”. It said Memon and his political party had further been accused of protecting individuals allegedly involved in the incident and obstructing the police investigation.

Read More: Murder charge added to Mir Raza case after re-postmortem report

Memon rejected the allegations as baseless and contrary to the facts.

The complaint also alleged that similar claims had appeared across different social media platforms in almost identical wording and around similar posting times. According to Memon’s application, allegations concerning ownership of the guesthouse and Rawal’s alleged departure for London had appeared in substantially similar language on at least four pages.

The complainant argued that the pattern suggested that the material was not merely the work of isolated social media users but could form part of a coordinated online campaign.

The application also called for an investigation into the possible involvement of elements associated with certain political parties, including the Jamaat-e-Islami and Muttahida Qaumi Movement, while expressing the apprehension that those behind the accounts could be using fake identities, bot networks or proxy handlers to conceal their identities.

Memon’s complaint sought a technical and forensic investigation to identify the people operating the accounts and determine the source and links behind the alleged campaign.

It called for a forensic audit of the social media pages and accounts, including examination of IP logs, device information and SIM registration data to trace the users behind the content.

The application also asked the NCCIA to investigate possible links between those allegedly involved, the source and funding of the material, and whether the activity formed part of an organised campaign.

Memon had also expressed concern that continued circulation of the alleged content could damage his and his son’s reputation, mental peace and personal security.