PTI calls media criticism as peddling ‘enemy stance, treason’

ISLAMABAD: In a bizarre message, ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Twitter account has equated freedom of expression and criticism by media to ‘expressing enemy’s stance’ and ‘treason’ against people.

The PTI's account tweeted a picture with the message, in which two individuals with their backs can be seen exchanging envelopes, referring to the widespread slur against journalists of being ‘lifafa’.

Following the appearance of the tweet, a hashtag #JournalismNotAgenda was seen being shared with multiple tweets.

PTI’s own account made several tweets regarding ‘responsible’ journalism.

PM’s Focal Person on Digital Media Arslan Khalid also posted a similar tweet with the same hashtag.

According to a Dawn report, PTI’s Information Secretary Omar Sarfraz downplayed any targeting of media through the party’s social media team.

Sarfraz said that there were multiple individuals behind social media accounts and freelances who operate without any signature mark.

He said that the PTI strictly monitors media and sometimes some individuals on social media act on their own.