FIA forms JIT to probe harmful propaganda after Lasbela chopper crash

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 8 August 2022

The Federal Investigation Agency is investigating a smear campaign after the Lasbela helicopter crash. A four-member team will take action against perpetrators.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has formed a four-member joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the social media smear campaign after the Lasbela helicopter crash, in which six Pakistan Army soldiers embraced martyrdom.

JIT, comprising the cyber crime circle, will take action against those spreading harmful propaganda. The special committee will also register cases against the perpetrators.

Taking to his official Twitter account, Prime Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif stated: "The social media campaign belittling & ridiculing the sacrifices of our martyrs was horrifying."

"This is what self-righteous political narratives do: they poison the minds of the youth & weaponise hate speech. Which way are we headed?"

The PM's tweet came after the Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Babar Iftikhar Friday, in a press release, condemned the "highly unacceptable and regretful social media campaign" after the unfortunate incident.

"The online campaign caused deep anguish and distress among the families of martyrs and rank and file of the armed forces," he stated.

On August 2, a Pakistan Army helicopter that had gone missing a day before in Balochistan crashed. The personnel in the chopper were overseeing the flood relief efforts in the southwest of the country.