The party strongly condemns this action, considering it a systematic attempt to target citizens and violate their fundamental constitutional rights of expression and communication.
On Tuesday, the interim federal government formed a six-member JIT to investigate the ongoing malicious social media campaign against the Supreme Court judges.
The JIT has been assigned to submit a preliminary report to the Ministry of Interior within 15 days. Notably, it will be led by the additional director general of the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing and will include Grade-20 officers from the Intelligence Bureau and Inter-Services Intelligence, the deputy inspector general of police from Islamabad, and a Grade-20 officer from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.
In response to the interim government’s action, a PTI spokesperson emphasized that the Constitution and democratic framework unequivocally protect citizens’ fundamental rights to expression, communication, and constructive criticism.
He stressed that every citizen has the inherent right to scrutinize state actions, governmental decisions, and even court rulings, provided it is done with good intentions.
Characterizing the caretaker government as unconstitutional and illegal, the spokesperson lamented the erosion of basic rights in the country over the last 22 months, attributing it to severe censorship in mainstream and social media.
The party alleged that the government’s motive behind forming the JIT is to shield unjust judicial decisions from public scrutiny, fostering an environment conducive to undermining the Constitution and democracy.
The spokesperson asserted that efforts are underway to empower those who have posed threats to judges, attacked the judiciary through rallies, and disrespected judges in public forums.
Criticizing the chief justice for perceived unjust decisions impacting nearly 100 million Pakistanis, the spokesperson urged the prioritization of constitutional supremacy over the infringement of citizens’ basic rights.
Undeterred by the “deployment of force and extra-constitutional tactics,” the party affirmed the nation’s steadfast commitment to demanding its fundamental rights from the state.
Furthermore, the spokesperson proposed that if the JIT is genuinely committed to curbing harassment against the judiciary, it should focus on actionable measures against individuals like PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, party’s Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz, and ANP’s Aimal Wali Khan, rather than subjecting citizens to “undue scrutiny.”