ISLAMABAD: General Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), issued a warning on Thursday, citing social media as a vehicle for spreading “anarchy” in response to recent military declarations denouncing the dissemination of misinformation and propaganda aimed at the security forces on the internet. Social media campaigns against the army have grown more intense over the last few years, which is indicative of deeper divisions in the political and social fabric of the nation. The administration has responded with harsh measures meant to control the narrative and quell dissent, frequently working in concert with the military.
Due to these efforts, social media users and journalists have been the target of multiple arrests and legal actions for allegedly disseminating “negative propaganda” about the government and military. As a result, internet access has been restricted and sites like X have been banned. Excerpts from COAS Munir’s address, which was provided by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) and given at a Ulema-o-Mashaikh convention in Islamabad today, state that “anarchy is spread through social media.”
“We will confront anyone attempting to instigate chaos in Pakistan, by God.” Pakistan is a nation that is meant to last, thus no force in the world can hurt it, he continued. As they “bring back moderation in the society and reject corruption in the world,” the army chief asked academics and clergy to promote tolerance and togetherness in society rather than extremism or prejudice.
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the Director General of ISPR, stated on Monday of this week that not enough legal action was being taken to combat “digital terrorism,” which permits the propagation of propaganda and false information throughout the nation. He stated, “The country’s laws must regulate and prevent digital terrorism, but regrettably, you can see that lies, propaganda, fake news, and doctored images continue to spread while confusion is created in the public’s mind, particularly on social media.”
The army announced a strong resolve to fight and defeat anti-military activities spreading across internet platforms in May, branding the mounting criticism leveled at it as “digital terrorism.” After the 83rd Formation Commanders Conference, the military made a statement that further hardened its position against online dissent and hinted at an upcoming crackdown against the critics.
The military’s response had occurred in the wake of a post made by PTI founder Imran Khan on his X account, in which he encouraged his supporters to read the Hamoodur Rehman Commission Report, which details the circumstances that led to East Pakistan’s independence.
On July 5, the phrase reappeared in the 265th Corps Commanders’ Conference. It was emphasized by those present that the goal of the “onslaught of politically motivated digital terrorism, unleashed by conspirators, duly abetted by their foreign cohorts against state institutions” was to spread propaganda, fake news, and outright lies to create discord and despondency in the country.
DG ISPR stated at a press conference last month that a false narrative was being spread on social media against the army and its leadership, portraying “digital terrorists” as using computers, smartphones, false information, and propaganda to impose their will on society in a manner “similar to that of terrorists.”
