FIA registers cases against journalists, vloggers under PECA

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cybercrime Wing has initiated legal action against several journalists and vloggers for their coverage of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) protest on November 24.

The cases, registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), accuse the individuals of spreading fabricated narratives against state institutions and inciting public unrest, FIA sources said.

Among those named in the cases are US-based journalist Ahmad Noorani and others including Harmit Singh, Imran Khatana, Rizwan Ahmed Khan, Hasnain Rafiq, Salman Durrani, Maryam Shafqat Malik and Abdul Qadir. The allegations include promoting misinformation, attempting to provoke violence, and creating divisions among state institutions, the FIA maintained.

“Harmit Singh, in particular, has been accused of using his Twitter platform to promote anti-state narratives. The case against Singh alleges that his content, shared between November 24 and 27, 2024, sought to incite violent actions, instill fear, and fuel ethnic and provincial discord for the political gain of certain factions. The FIA describes this as a seditious act,” the sources added.

While, the FIA Cybercrime Rawalpindi has arrested a citizen, Ilyas Awan, allegedly involved in anti-state propaganda on social media, says the agency’s spokesperson.

The FIA contended that some journalists and vloggers misused their platforms to disseminate false narratives about the protest and its aftermath, undermining state institutions and public confidence.

The PECA Act addresses cybercrimes, including the spread of false information, defamation, and sedition. Under this legislation, those found guilty can face significant penalties, including imprisonment.

The government has emphasised its commitment to countering misinformation campaigns that it claims aim to destabilise the country.

Media advocacy groups and journalists’ associations have expressed concern over the FIA’s actions, viewing them as an attempt to stifle press freedom. They argue that journalists have a right to report on political developments, including protests, without fear of retaliation.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari, in their statement, have condemned the government’s policy of involving them (journalists) in criminal cases to stifle freedom of expression. “We will fight those who try to asphyxiate freedom of media,” Butt and Ansari said.