LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Aalia Neelum on Thursday rejected a report by the FIA cybercrime wing regarding a complaint of Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari against her (Ms Bokahri’s) doctored pictures and video shared on social media.

The members of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed on the issue appeared before the court during the hearing of a petition filed by the minister, who also attended the proceedings.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the FIA’s report, the chief justice remarked if people should take matters into their own hands? She asked the JIT head whether this was the first case his department was handling and that who prepared the report.

The CJ asked the FIA to submit its standard operating procedures (SOPs) to obtain details from X, formerly twitter, and details of the ongoing and completed inquiries relating to cybercrime.

A government lawyer stated that a four-member JIT had been formed in the case, headed by Cybercrime Wing Assistant Director Rana Shahwaz Khan.

He said letters had been sent to the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and other authorities for the identification of the individuals involved in uploading the fake material on social media.The petitioner’s counsel claimed that PTI social media activist Falak Javed Khan edited the photos and videos and made them viral. He said despite a complaint filed with the FIA, no action was taken against the activist and other suspects.

He said that character assassination on social media infringed the constitutional rights of the petitioner. He sought court orders for action against Falak Javed and others, including placing their names on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Talking to the media, Information Minister Azma Bokhari thanked the chief justice for the relief provided to her so far.

She said that she was raising voice for all women whose cases were pending with the FIA’s cybercrime wing for years.

Ms Bokhari clarified that her case was neither political nor personal, but a fight for justice for all women.

She warned that any political rival who had uploaded her videos would have to face the consequences.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2024