Senate Standing Committee on Interior condemns Gandapur and Kalhoro’s killing

Author: NNI

ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Interior has expressed a sense of deep sorrow on the death of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf candidate Ikramullah Gandapur and Pakistan People’s Party worker Yasir Kalhoro and has prayed for them to be blessed with highest ranks in Jannah.

In its meeting, the committee asked the Ministry of Interior to submit a report about both the attacks.

The meeting was held with Senator Abdur Rahman Malik in the chair and was attended among others by Senators Mian Ateeq Sheikh, Talha Mahmood, Kalsoom Parveen and officials from ministry of Interior and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The Committee chairman observed that it was a collective wish of every Pakistani that the election process and the environment across the country during this time stays peaceful but unfortunately, anti-state agents are active again and a big number of precious lives are lost.

Taking serious notice of social media being used for propaganda against individuals and against collective issues, the committee held a detailed briefing by FIA Cyber Crimes director on spreading of objectionable and defaming content on social media.

The committee collectively agreed that social media is the need of the era and the committee is not in favour of baseless limitations on its use but the use has to be regulated in such a manner that it doesn’t hurt others through misuse and doesn’t do harm to anyone’s respect in the society. The committee also stressed that those who are spreading propaganda against the state and are using the platform to harm their opponents should be taken to task.

Talha Mahmood asked FIA officials as to what action is taken and under what laws against those who misuse the social media platforms. The committee was told that under the 2016 act a case is lodged and challan is to be submitted in court and the person found guilty can be punished for a time period of three to seven years. A total of 550 FIRs have been lodged during the last two years. The committee also took notice of false accusations against Mahmood on social media by some individual and asked FIA to probe into the matter.

Published in Daily Times, July 25^th 2018.