Punjab govt assigns CTD to curb sectarianism on social media

RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has assigned Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) to take action against those who spread religious hatred and sectarianism on social media.

According to sources, the Cyber Crime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was previously assigned to stop religious hatred and sectarianism on social media.

However, no significant steps could be taken in this regard by the authority due to which thousands of such pages are still running on social media, sources claimed.

Sources further claimed that the request to assigned Counter-Terrorism Department was made by the Punjab police, which was later approved by the provincial government. The CTD has also started registering cases following the government orders.

Earlier on August 6, Punjab Minister for Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Social Welfare, Raja Basharat ordered to adopt a zero-tolerance policy on cybercrime and religious hate content on social media.

While presiding over the Muharram security review meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order at the Civil Secretariat, he said that the Punjab government was taking further steps to curb cybercrime.

Religious scholars from all schools of thought said that they were in touch with each other and there was perfect religious harmony in the province. They also suggested that there should be strict monitoring of unauthentic religious content on social media.