ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) Islamabad chapter on Monday staged a protest in front of the National Press Club against the arrests of PTI bloggers and other social media users by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Local PTI leaders said the party activists are patriotic citizens and never spoke against the country or its army.

They said the government cannot stop people from expressing themselves on social media.

“The Constitution allows freedom of expression but through state institutions, the PML-N government has been trying to stop people [from speaking out on social media] in violation of the Constitution,” said PTI’s Ali Awan, Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad opposition leader.

He told Dawn all five PTI activists were released.

He alleged that the PML-N is running a media cell which is supervised by Maryam Nawaz and through the cell and with fake Ids, fake information is spread which tarnishes the image of the country’s institutions. No action is being taken against this cell, he said.

PTI leader Waseem Shahzad said rulers will face criticism if they do not deliver and UC Chairman Fouzia Arshad said the FIA is responsible for arresting terrorists and criminals who loot the country.

“It is not the FIA’s job to arrest educated youth for raising their voice on social media,” she said.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2017