The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Islamabad, has issued Notices of Attendance to several individuals, many of them affiliated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), summoning them for questioning before a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on March 7, 2025. The notices, issued under Section 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cr.P.C.), are part of a high-profile investigation into an alleged organised social media campaign that authorities claim was designed to create chaos and disorder in Pakistan.
The Federal Government, through Notification F.No.8/9/2024-FIA/Policy, has formed the JIT under Section 30 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016. The team is investigating individuals suspected of spreading anti-state propaganda and aims to identify and prosecute those responsible for inciting unrest.
Key Individuals Summoned
The notices have been delivered through multiple channels, including direct messengers, postal services, fax, and via the PTI Secretariat Office in Islamabad. Some of the prominent names in the list include:
Gohar Ali Khan
Salman Akram Raja
Rauf Hassan
Syed Firdous Shamim Naqvi
Muhammad Khalid Khurshid Khan
Mian Muhammad Aslam Iqbal
Muhammad Hammad Azhar
Aon Abbas
Aliya Hamza Malik
Muhammad Shahbaz Shabbir
Waqas Akram
Kanwal Shauzib
Taimoor Saleem Khan
Asad Qaiser
Shah Farman
All individuals are instructed to appear at 12:00 PM on March 7, 2025, at the Conference Room, Central Police Office, Police Line Headquarters, Sector H-11, Islamabad. They have been directed to bring their original CNICs and any supporting evidence for their defense.
Legal Consequences of Non-Compliance
The notices explicitly warn that failure to appear before the JIT will be considered an admission of guilt or a refusal to provide a defense. Additionally, non-compliance could lead to criminal proceedings under Section 174 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), 1860, which deals with disobedience of a legal order.
Political Implications and Public Reaction
The move has sparked concerns of political suppression, especially within PTI circles, where members believe this is part of a broader government crackdown on opposition voices. Several PTI leaders have already expressed their views on social media, calling the JIT investigation a politically motivated attempt to stifle dissent.
On the other hand, government officials maintain that the investigation is aimed at ensuring national security and preventing the spread of misinformation and hate speech on digital platforms.
