‘Anti-state propaganda’: JIT re-issues notices to 16 PTI leaders, activists

ISLAMABAD: The Joint Investigation Team (JIT), constituted by the government to investigate involvement of leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and social media activists in uploading “anti-state and humiliating material, fake news” and “indulging in negative propaganda against the institutions”, has summoned 16 individuals from PTI once again for their alleged involvement in such activities.

According to sources, there has been a significant development in the case related to negative propaganda on social media, and the JIT has reissued summons to 16 individuals. These individuals have been notified to appear before the JIT on March 18, 2025.

Sources revealed that the 16 individuals summoned by the JIT include Syed Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Muhammad Khalid Khurshid Khan, Mian Muhammad Aslam Iqbal, and Muhammad Hammad Azhar. Others who have received summons include Aun Abbas, Muhammad Shehbaz Shabbir, Waqas Akram, and Taimoor Saleem Khan.

Additionally, subpoenas have been issued to Sibghatullah Warak, Azhar Mashwani, Muhammad Nauman Afzal, Jibran Ilyas, Salman Raza, Zulfi Bukhari, Musa Warak, and Ali Malik.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, Raoof Hassan, and Shah Farman have already appeared before the JIT. However, on March 14, 2025, PTI founder’s sister Aleema Khan failed to appear despite being summoned. The JIT has now issued a fresh notice for her to appear on March 19.

The JIT is conducting investigations based on available evidence, focusing on allegations of anti-state propaganda. The JIT was constituted through notification FNo8/9/2024-FIA/ under Section 30 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016.

The investigation is being led by Inspector General of Police (IG) Islamabad, Ali Nasir Rizvi.

Sources further stated that all the individuals have been warned in the notices to clarify their positions on the matter.