LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) has arrested social media activist Sabir Hashmi for running a smear campaign against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
A case has been registered against the accused, Sabir Hashmi, under the FIA Cyber Crimes Act after the Cyber Crimes Wing conducted a raid in Model Town area of Lahore.
According to FIA, the social media activist was involved in running a smear campaign against the prime minister on social media platform Twitter by running trends and hashtags. The FIA also seized the accused’s mobile phone and other belongings and launched further investigation.
Maryam condemns arrest
PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz criticised the government for arresting journalists for running trends against the prime minister on social media.
“Journalist Sabir Mehmood’s abduction is proof of the government’s bafflement,” Maryam said in a tweet. “Is Imran Khan a sacred cow, whose failure and plunder can’t be criticized,?” She questioned
Maryam Nawaz said the whole party is standing with the journalist and the FIA should also refrain from being a puppet of the government.
Strict action
Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed displeasure over the indecent trend that consisted of personal attacks. While condemning the act during a Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting, the prime minister called it “cheap and intolerable”, adding that “such elements cannot be left unchecked and their actions have to be condemned.”
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill said that the government has approached the country’s courts against a journalist who issued “insulting and fabricated” statements about First Lady Bushra Bibi. The SAPM said that “strict legal action will be taken against those who spread false news about the first lady.”
A day ago, a journalist had claimed that Bushra Bibi had left Bani Gala for Lahore to stay at her friend Farah Khan’s house. The rumour soon started spreading on social media. Farah Khan refuted the rumours of the couple’s separation and denied that the first lady was staying at her place.
