ISLAMABAD: Over 100 social media accounts have been blocked for promoting sectarianism, anti-sta­­te, terrorist, and anti-Islam activities, at the request of the capital police.

Police officers said that, so far, 106 social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have been blocked through the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The step was taken in response to the findings of the Provisional of Violent Extremism Unit (PVE) of capital police’s Counter­terrorism Dep­art­ment (CTD), police officers said.

“The PVE is monitoring the individual’s social media accounts involved in different illegal activities, including sectarianism, anti-state, terrorism, and anti-Islam.”

So far, the unit had recommended to block 203 accounts — 164 Twitter, 38 Facebook, and one YouTube, of which 106 had been blocked by now, the officers said.

In this regard, separate requests were sent by the Counter­terrorism Dep­art­ment to the FIA for the closure of each account with the details, along with screenshots of illegal activities.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2023