The FIA counter-terrorism unit on Wednesday arrested 12 trollers involved in running smear campaign against sensitive institutions and important personalities, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

In a joint crackdown launched by the FIA counter-terrorism department and its cyber wing, the agency apprehended as many as a dozen trollers who were linked to running a slur campaign against the state institutions. 

However, the FIA counter-terrorism wing has sought legal opinion regarding registration of cases against the arrested persons who were found involved in hate trolling against sensitive institutions. 

The FIA was provided with lists of 50 people who were operating hundreds of fake social media accounts. From these fake accounts, trolling against sensitive institutions and important personalities was being done.

FIA sources informed that some accounts were being operated from abroad. So far 12 trollers have been arrested from Lahore, Gujrat, Faisalabad and Islamabad, they added.

Sources said that cases would be registered under anti-terrorism clauses. 

Reporter Irfan Malik