Punjab Information Minister Criticizes Imran Khan Amid Controversial Social Media Post

Punjab Information Minister Criticizes Imran Khan Amid Controversial Social Media Post/AzmaBukhari

Dil Bar Irshad | June 2, 2024 | 12:35 PM IST | Pakistan News, World | Follow on Google News

Punjab Information Minister Criticizes Imran Khan Amid Controversial Social Media Post

Punjab Information Minister Criticizes Imran Khan Amid Controversial Social Media Post

Key Highlights:

1. Minister Azma Bokhari condemns PTI founder Imran Khan, comparing him unfavorably to the Taliban.
2. FIA Cybercrime Cell seeks access to Khan for investigation into alleged anti-state propaganda.
3. PTI asserts ownership of the controversial post, urging public reading of the Hamoodur Rahman Commission report.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari launched a scathing attack on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, claiming that even the Taliban is better than him, according to ARY News. During a press briefing, Bokhari criticized PTI’s alleged tactics of gaining support and NRO from “powerful quarters” and questioned the emphasis on the Hamoodur Rahman Commission (HRC) report. She suggested that a new commission should investigate Khan’s alleged “anti-Pakistan” agenda, accusing him of seeking to divide the country.

Bokhari’s remarks followed a request from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cybercrime Cell to access Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated, to probe a controversial post from his official social media account. The post, shared on May 26, purportedly disseminated anti-state propaganda, particularly targeting the Pakistan Army, and allegedly aimed to incite rebellion among officers and sow discord within state institutions, violating the PICA Act 2016.

The FIA has also summoned PTI leaders Barrister Gohar and Omar Ayub, along with party spokesperson Raoof Hasan, regarding the alleged misuse of Khan’s social media account. The video shared from Khan’s account featured a quote attributed to him, urging Pakistanis to study the HRC report to discern the true traitor between General Yahya Khan and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The video attributed the country’s division to the former military dictator and alleged atrocities committed by the Pakistani military during the civil conflict, juxtaposed with images of current leadership accused of unlawfully seizing PTI’s electoral mandate.

The post sparked significant backlash and controversy, particularly from government circles, leading to an FIA investigation. Initially distancing itself from the post, PTI later claimed ownership and reiterated the call for public reading of the HRC report, while emphasizing the need for the military to operate within constitutional bounds.

(Inputs from Dawn)

Dil Bar Irshad

Dil Bar Irshad is a seasoned journalist, hails from Jammu Kashmir's Doda, covers political, social, business stories, index stories.