ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi on Sunday said a joint investigation team (JIT) formed to probe a “malicious” social media campaign against the top court’s judges was functioning as per law, denying accusations it was subjecting journalists and critics to a witch-hunt. 

Pakistan’s interior ministry on Jan. 16 announced the formation of a six-member JIT comprising representatives of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Intelligence Bureau (IB), the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Islamabad Police to probe a “malicious” campaign against judges of the Supreme Court on social media. 

The move came in response to criticism by legal experts, journalists, political analysts, and supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan on social media platforms, over a verdict by Pakistan’s top court earlier this month which upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to strip Khan’s party of its election symbol, a cricket bat.

“Caretaker Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi on Sunday said the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was investigating the ‘malicious campaign’ against the top judiciary on social media in accordance with the law,” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said in a report. 

Solangi said the team has so far investigated 600 social media accounts, adding that notices were served to as many as 110 individuals that included 32 journalists and 22 politicians, and political supporters.

“This is not about criticism rather it is related to character assassination and ridiculing [of the judiciary],” Solangi was quoted as saying by the APP. “What has been done against the judges of the apex court during the last couple of days on social media, it does not come under the pretext of criticism.”

The minister brushed aside allegations that the caretaker administration was subjecting journalists to a witch-hunt, saying that so far, a First Information Report (FIR) had not been registered against any individual. 

“Nobody has been picked up since the JIT is formed,” Solangi was quoted as saying. 

Pakistan’s controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) law has been criticized by media associations and rights groups, who accuse governments of using the law to suppress dissent and clamp down on democratic forces.

As the South Asian country heads toward polls, Pakistan’s opposition party led by former prime minister Imran Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI has accused the caretaker government and the powerful military of using unfair means to keep it away from elections. 

The military and caretaker government have strongly rejected the allegations. The caretaker government under Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has repeatedly assured Pakistan’s political parties that they would be provided a “level playing field” to contest polls on Feb. 8.