ISLAMABAD: 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.

Addressing a news conference along with officials of FIA, PTA and other relevant institutions, the minister said the JIT was formed on January 16 to probe into the anti-judiciary campaign on the social media networking sites.

He said the JIT’s first meeting was held on January 17 while the second one was convened on January 23. The process to probe into the drive was still underway, he added. So far, 600 social media accounts were investigated, he said, adding as many as 100 inquiries were registered.

The minister said notices were served on 110 individuals that included 32 journalists and 22 politicians and political workers.

The notices to the identified individuals were served in accordance with the law, Solangi said while brushing aside reports regarding harassment of journalists in the matter related to a “malicious campaign” against the top judges.

The minister said it was imperative to bring forth the facts in this regard. So far, no First Investigation Report (FIR) was lodged against anybody and no one was arrested for this matter.

Solangi said the law would take its course and actions against those who were involved in running the campaign against the judiciary would be taken in accordance with the law.

To a query, he said there were reasonable restrictions on the freedom of expression and the law of the land prohibited from running campaigns against the judiciary and armed forces. “This is not about criticism rather it is related to character assassination and ridiculing [the judiciary],” he said in response to another query.

“What has been done against the judges of the apex court during the last couple of days on social media does not come under the pretext of criticism,” he said while clarifying that there should be a fine line between criticism and ridiculing someone