On June 30, the Punjab Home Department launched the province’s first Cyber Patrol and Quick Response Cell under its supervision for real-time digital monitoring and swift action against online provocations. The new cell is tasked with identifying and reporting objectionable and sectarian material shared on social media.

In a statement issued on June 30, a spokesperson for the Home Department said the Cyber Patrol Cell has been actively scanning digital media for fake news, provocative posts, and content promoting religious hatred.In parallel

“All flagged material will be forwarded to the Special Branch for verification and further action,” the statement read.

According to official hand-outs released, 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 and the Punjab Information Technology Board. It monitors online platforms for hate speech, fake news, and provocative content.

The department added that it is collaborating with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and the Federal Ministry of Interior to ensure rapid blocking of objectionable content and to initiate legal proceedings against operators of identified accounts. The Special Branch has been tasked with pursuing content takedowns and assisting in tracing the origin of inflammatory posts.