Tarar claims man arrested for spreading anti-state material online in exchange for Indian funding
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- Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced the arrest of a man allegedly spreading anti-state material online using Indian funding.
- The suspect, a digital marketing professional, is accused of operating a misinformation network targeting Pakistan's security, government, and institutions.
- Screenshots of transactions and posts were presented as evidence, allegedly promoting sectarian violence and unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced Sunday the arrest of an individual accused of disseminating anti-state content online, allegedly funded by India. The suspect, reportedly working in digital marketing services, is alleged to have operated a "network of misinformation" within Pakistan.
The man had a WhatsApp chat with his Indian operator, where they talked about views (on posts), and money and account details were being exchanged.
In a televised address, Tarar stated that security forces had apprehended the man, whose business activities purportedly had links to India. The minister accused the suspect of receiving payments from India to spread content critical of Pakistan, its security forces, government, and institutions, including the army and its chief.
Small amounts of funds were transferred so that the payments would not be detected by financial monitoring units.
Tarar presented screenshots of alleged transactions and social media posts as evidence. He claimed these materials promoted sectarian violence, recent unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and anti-state sentiments. The minister also alleged the suspect had WhatsApp conversations with an "Indian operator" discussing post views and exchanging financial details, with small amounts transferred to avoid detection.
most of the content he received was about the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC)
The information minister further claimed the arrested individual confessed that much of the content he handled related to the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). The government recently declared the JAAC a proscribed organization following its call for protests. Tarar asserted that the JAAC "wants to harm the Kashmir cause, and they want to weaken Pakistan’s relationship with Kashmir," presenting "irrefutable evidence" of the group's ties to India.
The group was now "answerable to the entire nation for taking funding from the enemy [..] and running a disinformation campaign against Pakistan, and the army based on hat
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Originally published by Dawn. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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