Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was met with disappointment on Thursday when a US State Department spokesperson refrained from offering a direct response regarding the imprisonment of party founder, Imran Khan. During a media briefing, the spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, was asked about US President Donald Trump’s potential support for Khan, but she chose to sidestep the question. Instead, Bruce continued to focus on the topic of Pakistan-US counterterrorism cooperation, particularly regarding the arrest of Afghan terrorist Sharifullah, without addressing the concerns about Khan’s ongoing incarceration.
This silence from the US government adds to the mounting challenges faced by PTI as the party grapples with political and legal difficulties. Meanwhile, the party found itself under investigation at home as well. On Friday, a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) interrogated PTI members over accusations of spreading anti-state propaganda through social media platforms.
The JIT, formed by the federal government to probe malicious online campaigns, questioned 15 senior PTI leaders and 10 members of its social media team. However, only three party members appeared before the team, with the others either absent or represented by legal counsel. Among those summoned were prominent PTI figures such as Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Hammad Azhar, and Asad Qaiser, along with social media team members like Azhar Mashwani and Zulfi Bukhari.
The JIT’s inquiry focused on content posted by PTI’s social media handles that criticized Pakistan’s military and key state institutions. Members were questioned about the authorship, intent, and spread of such posts, which were deemed to be harmful to national interests. Additionally, PTI leaders, including Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, were questioned about the party’s finances, signaling the investigation might extend beyond digital campaigns.
The federal government had established the five-member JIT in July 2024 under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 to probe organized anti-state narratives online. The team is tasked with identifying individuals responsible for spreading disinformation against Pakistan’s military and judiciary, potentially fueled by foreign influence. It is also exploring whether the social media campaigns are linked to external funding aimed at destabilizing Pakistan’s political landscape.
This investigation is unfolding against the backdrop of strained relations between PTI and the Pakistani establishment, particularly following Imran Khan’s ouster in April 2022. PTI has long accused state institutions of targeting its leadership through legal and investigative means, while authorities argue their actions are in line with law enforcement and national security priorities.
Several PTI leaders, including Alia Hamza and Kanwal Shauzab, have voiced concerns that the JIT’s actions are politically motivated, aiming to suppress dissent. These leaders were represented by their lawyer during the inquiry, further highlighting the party’s frustration with the ongoing investigation.
The situation remains tense, with more PTI figures likely to be summoned as the investigation progresses. If sufficient evidence of wrongdoing is uncovered, further legal actions could follow. The inquiry continues to add pressure on PTI, reflecting the broader political struggle and the complex relationship between the party and state institutions.
