FIA cybercrime wing registers first case of fake news in Karachi

The cybercrime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Karachi has registered its first case related to spreading fake news.

The case was filed under provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) for propagating false information during a PTI protest in November. The suspect nominated in the FIR has been identified as Said Ur Rehman, resident of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Block 1. However, no arrest has been made in connection with the case so far.

The FIR stated that a report was received from a source regarding a Facebook account with the title, Saif Ur Rehman, that was involved in propoganda against the state and its institutes.

The account owner was spreading fake news on real social media accounts and using derogatory language about the state. During the course of inquiry, the technical analysis of the alleged Twitter account of the same handler was done which revealed that the alleged account was active in propaganda against the state and its numerous posts were found to be anti-state.

These posts included derogatory language and attempted to incite the public to harbour hatred against respectable institutions.

From the facts and evidence collected, it was established that Said Ur Rehman was using the said Facebook account in the name of Saif ur Rehman and had tried to damage the image of Pakistan's respectable institutions by uploading fake news against them and such acts constituted the commission of offence punishable under the sections 9, 10 and 20 of Peca 2016 read with the Section 505 of the Pakistan Penal Code.