RAWALPINDI-UNS: PTI founder Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Adiala Jail, said on Wednesday that certain individuals with no understanding of social media were dishing out “digital terrorism” labels.
Faced with an intensifying wave of criticism on social media, the army in May had labelled such expressions as “digital terrorism” and declared a firm commitment to combat and defeat anti-military campaigns proliferating across online platforms.
The statement that marked further stiffening of the stance of the military towards online dissent and suggested an impending crackdown against the critics had come at the end of the 83rd Formation Commanders Conference.
Over the past couple of years, social media campaigns against the army have escalated, reflecting broader tensions within the country’s political and social fabric. The government, often in tandem with the military, has responded with stringent measures aimed at controlling the narrative and stifling dissent.
These measures have led to numerous arrests and legal actions against journalists and social media users accused of disseminating “negative propaganda” against the military and the state. Additionally, there have been several instances of restricted internet access, and notable social media platforms like X have faced bans.
The military’s reaction had come against the backdrop of a post on Imran’s X account in which he urged his followers to study the Hamoodur Rehman Commission Report on the events leading to the separation of East Pakistan.
The term had featured again in the 265th Corps Commanders’ Conference earlier this month. The attendees had stressed that the “onslaught of politically motivated digital terrorism, unleashed by conspirators, duly abetted by their foreign cohorts against state institutions” was meant to induce “despondency in the nation and sow discord through peddling of blatant lies, fake news and propaganda”.
A day after the top military moot, the PTI had said that labelling free speech as “digital terrorism” would be detrimental to both the country and institutions.
Earlier this week, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif had said during a press conference that a false narrative was being propagated against the army and its leadership on social media, where “digital terrorists” were using tools such as cell phones, computers, falsehood, and propaganda to impose their will on society “akin to terrorists”.
The military spokesperson was criticised by the PTI which said the press conference was not warranted.
