ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is systematically running a campaign against state institutions through social media.
Addressing the press conference after briefing the international media on terrorism against Pakistan, Chaudhry said that terrorist organizations and hostile elements are increasingly using social media platforms to spread propaganda and undermine
The state minister said the government firmly believes in freedom of expression, but emphasized that there will be no compromise on the country’s sovereignty and security.
He alleged that PTI has been engaged in online propaganda for a long time, using fake accounts, paid trends, and coordinated campaigns.
The minister claimed that people are paid to run trends on social media and that money is given for each message, adding that many of these campaigns are operated from abroad.
He said instructions to spread propaganda are circulated through WhatsApp groups, while trends are run in collaboration with foreign-based companies.
“People are being paid to run trends on social media. Money is taken for each message, and coordinated campaigns are launched to push a specific narrative,” Talal said.
Chaudhry claimed that PTI was using social media to promote a particular agenda and that many of its social media accounts were being operated from abroad. He said that evidence of propaganda had been obtained directly from the same platforms.
Talal Chaudhry stated that evidence of social media propaganda has been collected from the same platforms and that information about individuals involved in these activities has been compiled.
He warned that those involved in spreading false narratives should stop immediately or face strict legal action.
The minister stated that not all social media trends accurately reflect public opinion, and many are propaganda. He added that fewer elements are based inside Pakistan, while a larger number of individuals involved in such campaigns operate from overseas.
Condemning terrorism worldwide, Talal Chaudhry said Pakistan itself is one of the most affected countries by terrorism. He emphasized that terrorists do not belong to any religion or country and that religion is often misused for terrorist purposes.
Talal Chaudhry confirmed that all the trends circulating on social media are not real; they are, in fact, propaganda.
