ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, has accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of advancing an India-sponsored agenda in the country. This accusation follows recent revelations about detained PTI leader Raoof Hasan’s interactions with an Indian journalist.
In a statement on Sunday, Tarar alleged that PTI has been engaged in activities that undermine Pakistan’s national interests. The minister’s comments come after Raoof Hasan, PTI’s Information Secretary, was arrested on July 22.
Hasan was apprehended by Islamabad police for allegedly heading a digital media cell accused of disseminating anti-Pakistan propaganda. His arrest was part of a broader crackdown following a call to action from Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, urging the nation to confront militants and “digital terrorists.”
Hasan was initially detained by the police from PTI’s Central Secretariat and later handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for further investigation. He was subsequently transferred to the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) for interrogation in connection with terrorism charges.
Tarar said that the investigation into Hasan’s activities has revealed links between PTI’s digital media operations and foreign entities, alleging that the party has been financed by external actors, specifically India. “The PTI digital media centre had become a hub for international disinformation,” Tarar claimed, highlighting the role of Indian funds in supporting PTI’s operations.
The minister criticized PTI for using its social media platforms to launch campaigns against Pakistan’s military and to harm the country’s foreign policy. According to Tarar, these activities are part of a broader strategy to damage Pakistan’s national integrity by leveraging foreign support.
Further commenting on Hasan’s interactions with the Indian journalist, Tarar said that these communications reflected PTI’s broader agenda. He accused PTI supporters of working in tandem with foreign entities to destabilize Pakistan and harm its national interests.
