US State Dept spokesperson ignores query about Imran

WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) faced disappointment on Thursday when the US State Department spokesperson avoided giving a direct response to a question about the imprisonment of party founder Imran Khan.

The question, raised during a media briefing, sought clarification on the expected support from US President Donald Trump, but the spokesperson chose to sidestep the question, offering no direct response.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce was discussing Pakistan-US counterterrorism cooperation on the arrest of wanted Afghan terrorist Sharifullah, when she was also asked about Imran Khan’s continued imprisonment and other related issues. However, Bruce kept focus on the counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries and avoided to reply to the query about Imran Khan.

Meanwhile, a Joint Investigation Team (JIT), constituted by the federal government to investigate malicious social media campaigns, Friday grilled members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over allegations of spreading anti-state propaganda on digital platforms.

The JIT, led by Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, had summoned 15 senior PTI leaders and 10 members of the party’s social media team for questioning. However, only three party leaders appeared before the panel, while others either failed to show up or were represented by their legal counsel.

Among the top PTI members summoned were PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Hammad Azhar, Salman Akram Raja, Raoof Hasan, Asad Qaiser, Aoun Abbas, Waqas Akram, Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Khalid Khurshid Khan, Aliya Hamza, Kanwal Shauzab, Taimoor Saleem Khan, Shah Farman, Shehbaz Shabbir, and Mian Muhammad Aslam.

Additionally, the JIT also issued notices to PTI’s social media team members, including Asif Rasheed, Muhammad Arshad, Sibghatullah Virk, Azhar Mashwani, Muhammad Nauman Afzal, Jibran Ilyas, Syed Salman Raza Zaidi, Zulfi Bukhari, Moosa Warq, and Ali Husnain Malik.

Sources confirmed that the PTI leaders were questioned about party-linked social media handles and were shown specific posts deemed anti-state or critical of Pakistan’s military and key institutions. The JIT reportedly asked probing questions regarding the intent, authorship, and circulation of these posts.

“The members were grilled on social media content related to the Pakistan Army and state institutions,” said an insider privy to the investigation.

Additionally, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and other party leaders were also questioned about party finances, hinting at a broader probe beyond digital campaigns.

In July 2024, the federal government established a five-member JIT to investigate organised anti-state propaganda on social media. The team was constituted under Section 30 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 and includes Director of FIA’s Cybercrime Wing, Director of FIA’s Counter-Terrorism Wing, DIG Investigation Islamabad, Senior Superintendent of Counter-Terrorism Department Islamabad, IG Islamabad Police (Head of the JIT).

The JIT is tasked with identifying and prosecuting individuals responsible for spreading false narratives against state institutions, attempting to incite public disorder, running coordinated disinformation campaigns against Pakistan’s military and judiciary and using fake accounts and bots to amplify anti-state messaging.

As per its terms of reference, the JIT is also analysing whether these campaigns are linked to foreign funding or external influences aiming to destabilise Pakistan’s political landscape.

This development comes amid ongoing tensions between PTI and the establishment, following the ousting of former prime minister Imran Khan in April 2022. The PTI has frequently accused the state institutions of targeting its leaders through legal and investigative measures, while authorities maintain that their actions are based on law enforcement and national security concerns.

Several PTI leaders declined to appear before the JIT, alleging that the investigation is a politically motivated attempt to suppress dissenting voices. Alia Hamza and Kanwal Shauzab, instead of appearing in person, were represented by their lawyer Dr Ali Imran.

The investigation is ongoing, and more summons could be issued based on the responses received from the grilled PTI leaders. Officials have hinted that further legal action may be taken if substantial evidence of misconduct is uncovered.