The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing registered a case against 38 individuals, including prominent journalists and YouTubers, for spreading an “alleged rape story” at a private college in Lahore.

The First Information Report (FIR) was registered on the complaint by Sadia Yousuf, the principal of Punjab College for Women, who raised concerns over the “dirty social media campaigns” that had aggravated protests. The FIR named several high-profile figures, including journalists Ayaz Amir, Imran Riaz Khan, Jameel Farooqui, and Sami Ibrahim, along with political activists such as PTI supporter Tayyaba Raja. Other figures listed include Naeem Bukhari and social media influencers such as Faisal Shahzad and Muqaddas Farooq Awan.

An FIA official said they had arrested three individuals: Raja Ahsan Naveed, Faisal Jutt, and Umar Daraz Gondal. Raids were carried out to apprehend others who had fled or gone into hiding. Authorities are also collaborating with social media giants to take further action against accounts involved, he said.