ISLAMABAD: Within a few hours after PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz lodged a complaint with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against fake and objectionable photos of her floating on social media, the federal government sprang into action and announced a crackdown on elements involved in defaming people by disseminating obscene and immoral videos and strict directives were issued by the Interior Ministry to the agency in this regard.

Interestingly, even the PML-N leader expressed concerns that she was waiting for action over the malicious social media campaign against her. In a tweet posted on Thursday, Ms Nawaz said she had reported the matter to the authorities and was waiting for action.

The visibly photoshopped images and videos have been shared by some prominent Twitter accounts as well as some newly created ones.

Soon after Maryam lodged the complaint and the Interior Ministry issued directions, the FIA tweeted a warning around Thursday midnight, titled ‘Strict action against fake videos by FIA’.

The warning posted by the FIA spokesperson on the agency’s official Twitter account said: “FIA has taken notice of fake videos running on social media. An investigation has been launched. Strict legal action in the shape of imprisonment & fines will be taken against the persons involved in making, spreading these videos. People are advised to stop sharing these videos.”

However, by Friday evening, there was no confirmation if any action had been taken.

Meanwhile, experts have slammed the country’s cybercrime control mechanism, claiming it was neither updated nor adequately managed to fight violations on social media.

“The issue in this case is that everybody is in action only because someone has started violating the rights of an influential person -- Maryam Nawaz this time. It was just like the case of PTI MNA Kanwal Shauzab, and the FIA actively followed her complaint,” said Nighat Dad, executive director of the Digital Rights Foundation.

She added: “The main point that the authorities need to understand is why the interior minister had to intervene – because the report lodged by Maryam sahiba herself was not taken seriously by the FIA. So what about any ordinary woman of Lahore or anywhere else -- how will she pressurise the FIA.”

Most experts, including Ms Dad, have stressed the government revamp the cybercrime wing of the FIA and redesign the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act if the issue of online harassment has to be addressed.

Govt crackdown

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, in a series of tweets, on Friday said those uploading unethical and immoral material on social media will be arrested. He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed to show zero tolerance towards such elements.

Mr Sanaullah maintained social media will not be allowed to be used for mudslinging. He further said any incident will be acted against wherein objectionable material is used for blackmailing. The interior minister further said those involved in criminal activities will be dealt with iron hands.

The announcement about the crackdown came on the heels of Ms Nawaz’s report filed with the FIA as well as days after former prime minister Imran Khan alleged that his political opponents had hired companies for his character assassination.

In an interview with actor Shaan Shahid aired on a private news channel on Wednesday, Mr Khan claimed the ruling coalition of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had hired companies to make “fake videos” to tarnish his reputation. He had claimed the Sharif family was preparing to launch a malicious campaign against him after the Eid holidays. “Now that Eid is over, you will see that they are all set. The Sharif family is trying to assassinate characters of their political opponents by hiring marketing companies to produce objectionable content,” he claimed, adding that after his former wife Jemima Goldsmith, the government was now targeting his current wife Bushra Bibi.

Some media reports suggest that at least half a dozen videos purportedly featuring Mr Khan could be leaked in the next few days. Reportedly, the leaks also include some audio clips, which were recorded at his Banigala residence. These videos were to be released soon after the fall of Imran Khan’s government, but were held back due to the holy month of Ramazan.

Kalbe Ali also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2022