Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) arrested a man impersonating actress Syra Yousuf on Twitter and ran a smear campaign against state institutions.
A man identified as Mian Naeem from Kamoke Gujranwala has been arrested by the Cyber Crime Wing of FIA. Naeem had allegedly set up the account in 2019.
According to reports, “FIA’s cyber crime branch investigated the matter and found that the fake account is being operated from Kamonki area of Gujranwala district.”
The FIA’s CCW Department stated: “Mian Naeem is in FIA custody and has confessed to the crime after his arrest.”
According to FIA, such actions can lead to up to seven years of imprisonment and hard labor. Suspected is expected to be punished under cybercrime laws.
FIA has become active regarding the smear campaigns running on social media against state institutions lately.
In August, The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crimes Wing formed a team to track and arrest the culprits behind the smear campaign against the Pakistan Army, especially after the helicopter crash in Balochistan that resulted in the martyrdom of six officers.
According to the details, the FIA constituted a four-member team and tasked it with pointing out, arresting, and taking legal action against those involved in running a negative social media campaign on the tragic incident of the helicopter crash.
Director General Cybercrime Wing Muhammad Jaffer headed the inquiry team, while Director Waqaruddin Syed, Deputy Director Ayaz, and Imran Haider constituted the team.
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Earlier anchorperson and journalist Jameel Faroqui was also handed over to FIA for further probe into the allegations leveled against him of insulting the state institutions in his videos.
The prosecutor argued that Jameel Farooqui had insulted state institutions in a vlog for which he was arrested, and his mobile phone was taken into custody. Furthermore, the prosecutor requested the court to hand over the case to FIA as the police has completed its investigation.
During the hearing, FIA said that it would carry out further investigation into the case if the case is transferred to the agency. Youtuber and BOL News TV anchor Jameel Farooqui was arrested from Karachi on a charge of falsely accusing Islamabad Police of torturing Shahbaz Gill. Upon his arrest, a Karachi court transferred him to the custody of Islamabad Police to transit him to the federal capital.