As PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan kicks off his election campaign, a countrywide crackdown has been launched against PTI’s social media team.
According to the details, PTI has claimed that the social media team lead of the party’s Sindh Chapter, Arshad Siddiqui, has been missing since Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the houses of PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa social media team lead Ikram Khatana and head of operations Bilal Ahmad Khan were also raided. Since Bilal Ahmad Khan was not present at home, his father and younger brother were abducted.
The crackdown on PTI’s social media team comes days after one of the party’s most vocal social media activists Azhar Mashwani was picked up on Thursday, apparently on charges of criticizing the Punjab police and the caretaker government for allegedly using high-handed tactics against party workers.
Read more: PTI demands release of Azhar Mashwani
Our social media lead for KP Bilal Ahmed’s house was invaded by the police and his father and younger brother was taken as hostage. The law enforcement agencies are creating a mockery of basic civil human rights of every citizen and using their authorities as tyrants. This needs… pic.twitter.com/LacvfrbEIc
— Jahanzeb Khan PTI UK (@JKhanClassified) March 26, 2023
Our Social media team member from Karachi @ArshadSidiqi has gone missing.
This morning he left his house for his workplace & there is no contact with him since then.
Smells like another case of abduction on PTI activists. pic.twitter.com/Dq78cudbDH— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) March 26, 2023
The crackdown against members of PTI’s social media team is being widely condemned. The incumbent government has once again become the target of intense criticism as it gets accused of fascism.
“Fascism against PTI SMT by this fascist regime: Azhar Mashwani: Focal person to IK- missing for four days. Arshad Siddiqui: Sindh Op Lead missing since noon. Ikram Khatana: KP Lead – house raided. Bilal: KP OP lead – House Raided, brother and father arrested,” PTI leader and former SAPM Zulfi Bukhari said.
“PTI social media youth being abducted one after another because despite State power cabal of crooks cannot compete with PTI social media team! So fascist rulers are abducting these young people and even family members,” PTI leader and former human rights minister Shireen Mazari said while urging the United Nations to take note of these abductions and disappearances.
PTI social media youth being abducted one after another bec despite State power cabal of crooks cannot compete with PTI social media team! So fascist rulers are abducting these young ppl & even family mbrs. @volker_turk @WGEID pl take note of these abductions & disappearances. https://t.co/3Lb17MHDEL
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) March 27, 2023
Pertinent to mention here that PTI has a strong social media presence and the party is currently gearing up for an intense election campaign. On the other hand, following the Zaman Park clashes and vandalism at Judicial Complex, the government has intensified its crackdown on PTI.
Read more: Watch: Heavy police force arrive at Zaman Park to arrest Imran Khan
Over 200 PTI workers have been booked under charges of interfering in state matters and violation of Section 144. 316 PTI workers were arrested while the houses of senior PTI leaders were also raided.
Someone hired social media teams, someone blocked Lahore perimeters & arrested PTI workers, someone shared pics with "touts" via WhatsApp for the "F for" narrative, someone became a HT trender, but all failed miserably as only F For Full House trended along with top 5 PTI trends! pic.twitter.com/HiXVydQpeB
— Tehreek-e-Insaf (@InsafPK) March 25, 2023