Cabinet approves summary empowering FIA to curb social media propaganda

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Wednesday approved summary empowering the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to curb social media posts what are meant to propagate against state institutions.

The approval by the federal cabinet came through a summary on circulation from the Ministry of Interior about the amendments in the schedule of the FIA Act, 1974.

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The summary reads “FIA has intimated that presently, social media is inundated with false information and rumours against state institutions and organisations with intent to cause or incite or which is likely to cause or incite any officer, solder, sailor or airman in army, navy, or air force of Pakistan to mutiny, offence or otherwise disregard or fail in his duty as such.”

It further adds that these rumours and false information were also being disseminated with the intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm in the public or in any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the state or against the public tranquillity.

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The FIA noted that the government that the offence was triable under PPC Section 505 (statement conducing to public mischief), which was currently not included in the agency’s law. It wanted the State’s approval to include Section 505 in its scheduled offences, recommending imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and with fine.