Joint task force formed to identify anti-state propaganda perpetrators

• Panel to identify individuals, groups involved in propaganda
• Campaign aimed at creating serious law, order situation: PMO
• Joint task force team to present its report within 10 days.

ISLAMABAD: The government has constituted a 10-member joint task force (JTF) to identify perpetrators of malicious propaganda against the state.

The panel, formed with the approval of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, will identify individual groups and organisations involved in creating and spreading fake and misleading news.

The JTF has been constituted consequent upon recent incidents of terrorism and vandalism and a massive malicious campaign to discredit the state in general and security forces in particular.

Multiple domestic and foreign based media platforms are being used to perpetrate concocted, baseless and inciting news implicating state apparatus for committing serious human rights violations, said an statement issued by the Prime Minister Office.

“This campaign is aimed at creating serious law and order situation in the country and foment provincialism and ethnic cleavages for specific political interests,” it added.

The team has been tasked to present its findings in 10 days to bring the perpetrators to justice at the earliest.

As per a letter, the chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will lead the joint task force, which will include representatives from the Inter-Services Intelligence Agency (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI), the joint director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the director of the Cyber Crimes Wing of the FIA, the Islamabad Police DIG, the director of the IT (Ministry of IT), and the joint secretary of the interior and information ministries. Other officers may be added to the JTF, if necessary.

According to a report published by The News, the JTF’s responsibilities include (a) identifying the people, organisations, and groups responsible for producing and disseminating false information about political miscreants in Islamabad from November 24–27, including the full media campaign surrounding the issue, (b) tracking down and tracing the people or groups involved in this malicious campaign, whether they are in Pakistan or overseas and (iii) proposing steps to reduce policy gaps

Moreover, the panel is also directed to presenting its findings “within 10 days and bringing perpetrators to justice at the earliest”. 

The government and arch-rival, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have been at loggerheads, with the former holding latter responsible for spreading “anarchy” in the country and the violence during May 9 events and other protest rallies by political party that followed.

Former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan’s party has been rallying for his release from Adiala prison and held the latest protest march in Islamabad last week.