Army chief points to fake news industry working on social media
Pakistan
Says disinformation campaign aimed portraying that the state writ has been eroded
RAWALPINDI (Web Desk/Dunya News) – As Pakistan is witnessing a rise in fake news spread, Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir on Friday said social media was being used as a tool to create chaos in country – an obvious reference to the PTI.
Read more: With elections approaching, deepfake is already employed in Pakistan too
The comments came as the PTI is known – just like Narendra Modi’s BJP in India – for using social media platforms for promoting fake news, spreading disinformation and demonising the critics to promote its agenda. The May 9 violence is the best example in this respect.
It has been established that the PTI had used state resources for spreading false propaganda against state institutions, while characters like Adil Raja have been a major contributor to the organised efforts aimed at anarchy in Pakistan.
As far as the organised working of the fake news industry is concerned, all the social media accounts involved in the practice are either directly attached to the PTI or being followed and promoted by the party members.
Gen Munir told the National Farmers Convention in Islamabad that fake news had a become a tool to create an impression that the state was losing the writ.
Meanwhile, the army chief reiterated the military’s commitment to fortify the nation and uplift the country’s agricultural backbone.
He stressed that agriculture and animal husbandry were professions akin to prophethood and pledged to crack down on all forms of mafia collaborating to exploit the nation.
The army chief reminisced about Pakistan's rapid progress in the 1960s, acknowledging the country as an Asian trailblazer. However, he lamented the deviation from Quaid-e-Azam's three golden principles of faith, unity and discipline, leading to a decline.
The army chief stated that the Green Pakistan Initiative aimed to prioritise the agriculture sector, allocating a significant portion to the provinces while reserving the rest for farmers and agricultural research.
Emphasising the virtues — discipline, resilience, growth, and patience — required in these professions, the army chief highlighted the unblemished rewards awaiting those who persevered.
He clarified the military's role in the Green Pakistan Initiative as serving the public and farmers. “Plans include organising agricultural expos across all districts, ensuring farmers have access to various agricultural facilities like easy loans, efficient cold storage and climate-resistant seeds,” he added.
