Islamabad (Web Desk): The government has established a 10-member Joint Task Force (JTF) to investigate and identify perpetrators of malicious propaganda against the state.
The JTF, approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, will identify individual groups and organizations involved in creating and spreading fake and misleading news.
According to a statement issued by Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), 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 while other officers may be added to the JTF, if necessary.
This move follows a series of troubling incidents, including acts of terrorism, vandalism, and an organized campaign to tarnish the reputation of both the state and its security forces.
The JTF’s primary objective is to track down and expose individuals, groups, and organizations involved in the creation and dissemination of false and misleading narratives.
These fabricated stories are being circulated across various media platforms, both domestic and international, with the intent of falsely accusing state institutions of committing severe human rights abuses.
The malicious campaign is designed to provoke social unrest and destabilize the country by exploiting sensitive ethnic and provincial divisions.
It seeks to stir conflict and deepen political rifts for the benefit of specific vested interests.
The disinformation is particularly damaging as it attempts to create a false narrative of state-sponsored oppression, while deflecting attention from the actual sources of violence and disorder.
The JTF will work with urgency to uncover the full extent of this disinformation network, identify the perpetrators, and take appropriate legal action.
They have been given a ten-day deadline to report their findings and ensure that those responsible for this malicious campaign face justice without delay.