Religious leaders of different Islamic schools of thought have in a meeting jointly demanded immediate and strict legal action from state institutions against the organized social media campaign targeting Islam, scholars, and religious organizations.

In a unanimous declaration issued on Sunday after a meeting, scholars from the Barelvi, Deobandi, and Ahl-e-Hadith schools of thought demanded that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) take impartial action against all individuals and groups spreading hateful, provocative, and unverified content online.

The scholars emphasized that accountability should not be limited to the original posters of the nefarious campaign but should also include the admins and social media groups responsible for disseminating such content.

Deep concern was also expressed regarding those social media activists who, for mere temporary fame and financial gain, are violating the private lives, sanctity of homes, and family dignity of individuals, especially religious scholars.

It was stated in the meeting that these actions not only affect police investigations but also severely damage societal values, and it was stressed that character assassination of individuals based on speculation and unverified information is in no way acceptable from a legal, religious, or ethical standpoint.

The scholars stressed that spreading accusations against any person, especially a religious figure, without a judicial verdict and concrete evidence is an immoral act that can lead to social unrest and anxiety.

During the meeting, certain media circles were also criticized for promoting character assassination and media trials by publishing reports without proper research and verification.

The religious figures maintained that the determination of truth and falsehood should be based solely on courts and evidence, not on public opinion shaped by media or online platforms.