Govt launches 'cyber patrolling' aims to curb sectarianism, track processions

Tue, July 01, 2025

In an effort to counter sectarianism during Muharram, the Punjab Home Department has launched the province's first-ever Cyber Patrolling and Quick Response Cell.

The state-of-the-art unit will operate round-the-clock to monitor social media platforms for objectionable and inflammatory content, and to take swift legal action against violators.

According to official hand-outs released on June 30, the Punjab Police registered nine cases within the last 24 hours for the online circulation of sectarian and hateful content.

Ten individuals have been arrested in connection with these cases - eight for posting on Facebook and two for sharing material via WhatsApp. The arrests were made in Sargodha, Sahiwal, Lodhran, Bhakkar, Khanewal, Rajanpur and Layyah.

Inspector General of Police Punjab, Dr Usman Anwar, affirmed that the force is actively cracking down on digital incitement of religious hatred.

"Anyone using social media to spread sectarianism will face the full force of the law," he warned.

The newly formed cyber cell is housed within the Home Department's central control room and operates in collaboration with the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) and the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB).

It monitors online platforms for hate speech, fake news, and provocative content.

Reported material is relayed to the Special Branch, which in turn coordinates with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for blocking such content.

So far, the unit has flagged 271 social media accounts to the PTA, resulting in the arrest of 17 individuals involved in spreading sectarian hate online.

The cell is also fully integrated with Punjab's Safe City infrastructure and receives real-time updates from district-level control rooms.

A dedicated "Muharram e-Portal" has been established to link all districts with the central unit for streamlined coordination and incident reporting.

News Link: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2553537/govt-launches-cyber-patrolling

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