Twitter has been divided following the recent suspension of Pakistani Federal Investigation Agency officer Asif Iqbal. The now-former member of the FIA cybercrime wing, who had reportedly lodged an FIR against musician Meesha Shafi and eight others for their supposed involvement in a smear campaign against Channo singer Ali Zafar, was suspended from the service on Thursday. “Service of Muhammad Asif Iqbal, assistant director/senior investigator (BPS-17) cybercrime reporting centre Lahore is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect till further orders,” read an order issued by FIA Cyber Crime Wing Director Amir Farooqi. Many have now alleged that Iqbal was not issued a show-cause notice, nor was he given a reason for his suspension.
@dawn_com sunk to new lows by publishing a maliciously motivated incorrect news story about how I had an FIA cyber crime official suspended after my daughter tweeted. FIA put out an immediate rejoinder to the @Dawn story but some are bent on maligning & character assassination pic.twitter.com/OxxHTqpr8T
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) October 2, 2020
Important to discover the truth behind this suspension! An Explanation, a satisfactory believable explanation, must come forward from FIA otherwise public speculation will continue to fuel! https://t.co/zIc7VteYJe
— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) October 2, 2020
The hashtags #JusticeforAsifIqbal and #SackShireenMazari have been trending high on the micro-blogging site since yesterday. The health minister as well as her lawyer-daughter Imaan Mazari Hazir are being called out for playing a big part in Iqbal’s suspension. Defending herself, Shireen tweeted, “@dawn_com sunk to new lows by publishing a maliciously motivated incorrect news story about how I had an FIA cybercrime official suspended after my daughter tweeted. FIA put out an immediate rejoinder to the @Dawn story but some are bent on maligning and character assassination,” lashing out at netizens. TV anchor and popular columnist Moeed Pirzada posted, “Important to discover the truth behind this suspension! An Explanation, a satisfactory believable explanation, must come forward from FIA otherwise public speculation will continue to fuel!”
#SackShireenMazari #UnsuspendAsifIqbal
You have not shown any interest human rights. You have no interest in Pakistani people rights rather You are interested in your spoil child who always barked at armed forces. ??? https://t.co/u8DyulxQ5N— ???? ??? (@faujDefender) October 3, 2020
It seems #PTI has also become Patwaristan ? Unfortunately this isnt the #Tabdeeli that the people had voted for. The #Despicable Mazari clan has besieged #NayaPakistan @ImranKhanPTI ? #JusticeforAsifIqbal #SackShireenMazari #?????_?????_??????_??
— zia (@zia_qadir) October 3, 2020
Justification by Cyber Crime Wing for suspension of Asif Iqbal, states that he was running account of CCW & acting as spokesperson CCW.
AsIf Iqbal catagorically stated many times that account was not official but personal.#SackShireenMazari #?????_?????_??????_?? #AsifIqbal pic.twitter.com/w3g4K6JYP3
— Mehmood Farrukh – A Different Lens (@mehmoodfarrukh1) October 3, 2020
Others expressed great disappointment in Shireen too. A furious internet user penned, “#SackShireenMazari#UnsuspendAsifIqbal You have not shown any interest human rights. You have no interest in Pakistani people rights rather You are interested in your spoil child who always barked at armed forces.” Another added, “It seems #PTI has also become Patwaristan. Unfortunately, this isn’t the #Tabdeeli that the people had voted for. The #Despicable Mazari clan has besieged #NayaPakistan
@ImranKhanPTI. #JusticeforAsifIqbal#SackShireenMazari.” Mehmood Farrukh re-tweeted Cyber Crime Wing FIA’s original post and weighed in on Iqbal’s suspension. “Justification by Cyber Crime Wing for suspension of Asif Iqbal, states that he was running account of CCW & acting as spokesperson CCW. AsIf Iqbal catagorically stated many times that account was not official but personal. #SackShireenMazari#AsifIqbal,” he noted.
Apt considering my article in The News today was on exactly this type of control being exercised over women to silence them because this society cannot handle opinionated women.
I tweet on MANY issues every single day. You'll have to find a better guise for your misogyny.
— Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir (@ImaanZHazir) October 2, 2020
A 17 grade officer from middle class who probably had no backing of powerful people. People like Shireen Mazari can only flex their muscles and abuse their power against honest officers like Asif Iqbal who have not deeper connections in the power corridors.#SackShireenMazari https://t.co/zcjmUwO9r4
— Evanescent (@Evanescent19) October 3, 2020
Responding to the backlash, Imaan tweeted, “Apt considering my article in The News today was on exactly this type of control being exercised over women to silence them because this society cannot handle opinionated women. I tweet on MANY issues every single day. You’ll have to find a better guise for your misogyny.” Her post met with more trolling from social media users. One responded with, “A 17 grade officer from middle class who probably had no backing of powerful people. People like Shireen Mazari can only flex their muscles and abuse their power against honest officers like Asif Iqbal who have not deeper connections in the power corridors. #SackShireenMazari.”
I will be serving a legal notice to @dawn_com for insinuating my involvement in this.
Have nothing to do w/ this & to publish a false story implicating me is unacceptable.
This false story resulted in vicious online abuse & this reporter shd come to court now w/ his evidence. https://t.co/QqhzxfcJhQ
— Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir (@ImaanZHazir) October 2, 2020
This duo is so powerful that can easily remove a honest CSS officer just because they disagree with his opinion which is lawfully 100% correct, if this is the new Pakistan we want our old Pakistan back ! ?#SackShireenMazari #JusticeforAsifIqbal pic.twitter.com/fQX6UPwywp
— Rehan Ajmal (@RehanAjmalSays) October 3, 2020
Being committed and honest to your job is a crime in pakistan .such a nonsense ,illogical ,criminal and lopsided decision .
Restore this legend and kick out all those shitty minister is a need of time #SackShireenMazari#JusticeforAsifIqbal pic.twitter.com/zzDf0pXf2l— Ihtisham khattak (@Ihtishamkhatt16) October 3, 2020
i find nothing wrong in this public msg defining penalty of defamation and slander on social media. THIS is the tweet @AsifIqbalccw was suspended for. RT if u agree there is nothing wrong in this msg#JusticeforAsifIqbal ?@pid_gov @ImranKhanPTI https://t.co/q03d1lpxJz
— Zainab Qayoom~ZQ (@zainaconda) October 3, 2020
http://brownidentity.com/2020/10/02/pakistani-fia-officer-suspended-twitter-isnt-having-it/
Imaan also stated that she will be sending a legal notice to leading publication Dawn for fabricating the truth. “I will be serving a legal notice to @dawn_com for insinuating my involvement in this. Have nothing to do w/ this & to publish a false story implicating me is unacceptable. This false story resulted in vicious online abuse & this reporter shd come to court now w/ his evidence.” Calling out the mother-daughter duo, one user posted a picture of Shireen and Iman together and wrote, “This duo is so powerful that can easily remove a honest CSS officer just because they disagree with his opinion which is lawfully 100% correct, if this is the new Pakistan we want our old Pakistan back! #SackShireenMazari#JusticeforAsifIqbal.” Another one of Iqbal’s supporters wrote, “Being committed and honest to your job is a crime in pakistan .such a nonsense ,illogical ,criminal and lopsided decision. Restore this legend and kick out all those shitty minister is a need of time #SackShireenMazari #JusticeforAsifIqbal.” Standing by Iqbal, former supermodel Zainab Qayoom wrote, “I find nothing wrong in this public msg defining penalty of defamation and slander on social media. THIS is the tweet @AsifIqbalccw
was suspended for. RT if u agree there is nothing wrong in this msg #JusticeforAsifIqbal.”
