Talal Chaudhry warns that those involved may face prosecution if they continue the activities
Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry speaks to reporters outside the Parliament House in Islamabad on October 9, 2025. SCREENGRAB
ISLAMABAD:
Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry said on Monday that Pakistan has uncovered extensive evidence of coordinated, paid social media campaigns run through fake accounts, mostly run from abroad, and warned that those involved could face legal action if they continue activities that undermine the country.
During a detailed briefing, the minister said the government recently provided background information to foreign media on how terrorists and organized networks are exploiting social media platforms to manipulate public opinion in Pakistan.
He welcomed international coverage of Pakistan’s position and said leading global newspapers and news channels had highlighted the issue responsibly.
Chaudhry emphasized that while the government strongly supports freedom of expression, it must operate within constitutional limits.
“Freedom of expression is not without responsibility,” he said, adding that no one has the right to hurt religious sentiments, attack friendly countries or malicious individuals and institutions under the guise of freedom of expression.
The minister explained that investigations revealed how artificial trends are created and “sold” through WhatsApp groups and other platforms.
According to the evidence presented, individuals are paid small amounts ranging from a few rupees to cents per post—to repeatedly tweet or forward messages, sometimes hundreds of times a day.
Many of these accounts, he said, originate outside Pakistan and are run by companies using fake identities. “These are anonymous accounts, often created in the names of women, news agencies, provinces or cities, but they are not real,” Chaudhry said.
He added that account names often change depending on the campaign being promoted, making it more difficult to trace their origins.
The prime minister noted that the same networks have been found promoting content linked to banned terrorist organizations such as TTP and BLA, as well as unrelated international causes, showing that the activity is commercial rather than ideological.
“These trends are not organic or natural. They are paid for, controlled by companies outside Pakistan,” he said.
Chaudhry clarified that the evidence shared was collected directly from the same social media platforms that were abused, including details of temporary WhatsApp groups that were formed to drive trends and then deleted to avoid detection.
He said social media companies’ own community guidelines are being violated, leading to account closures and further action from the platforms themselves.
While stressing that the government does not want ordinary citizens to face criminal charges, the minister issued a clear warning. “If people knowingly become part of paid trends that go against the country, they can face legal consequences,” he said.
With input from APP
