Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi has urged journalists and social media activists to keep their criticism within the limits of civility and avoid disrespect of institutions.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad this evening, he dispelled the impression that government is running any campaign to harass journalists.

He said a Joint Investigation Team was constituted to check malicious campaign against judiciary and character assassination of judges.

The Minister said so far only notices have been served under the law and neither any case was registered nor was any person picked up.

He said around six hundred social media accounts were investigated, whereas around hundred inquiries were registered and notices were serviced to one hundred and ten people.

He said around twenty of the social media accounts were operated by political workers or politicians, while thirty two were run by journalists.

Murtaza Solangi said there should be a difference between criticism and mudslinging and character assassination.  He said Article 19 of the Constitution does not provide indefinite freedom of expression and there are reasonable restrictions in this regard.  

Referring to slanderous campaign against judiciary unleashed on social media, the Minister said what happed in last few days does not fall in the ambit of the freedom of expression.

Murtaza Solangi said a substantial decline was witnessed in the smear campaign against the judiciary and its judges after the constitution of the JIT.