Anti-army campaign: Task force under consideration

Eight TikTok, 44 Twitter and more than 50 Facebook profiles linked to against army, interior ministry spokesperson

The government is mulling forming a special task force to monitor social media activities against the army.

Although a summary to form the task group had been forwarded, it was still pending approval. “For now, it’s just a suggestion,”

The planned task force would be made up of representatives from the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), Pakistan Telecom Authority, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The police and other law enforcement authorities will support the planned task group as it formulates suggestions to stop social media abuse.

The action was taken at a time when the government accused Imran Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, of leading a campaign of defamation against the military.

A number of social media trends demonizing the army and its commanders have recently gained popularity as a result of the country’s growing political polarization, which was also mirrored in the online world. After six army personnel lost their lives in a helicopter crash in Balochistan in August 2022, the military strongly condemned “false propaganda and insensitive comments on social media.” Later, the FIA assembled a squad to find and apprehend people responsible for the campaigns.

Eight TikTok accounts, 44 Twitter accounts, and more than 50 Facebook profiles have reportedly been linked to ‘against army’ efforts on social media, according to a spokesperson for the interior ministry.

This is the government’s second effort in as many months to dampen criticism of the army on social media. After a bill requesting the apex body’s approval to tighten down on social media was tabled in February, disagreements began to surface among cabinet members.

During a cabinet discussion, some members noted that anyone who disparages MPs should be subject to the law, while others countered that strong penalties would amount to restricting free speech. Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023 is the name of the proposal that the interior ministry has put out.

Despite the existence of Section 500 in the Pakistan Penal Code (Punishment for defamation), the cabinet was advised that there was “a long-standing need for a separate provision to protect the judiciary and armed forces” against scandalous and disparaging assaults.