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Condemning incidences of PML-N's social media supporters going missing, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has demanded that the interior ministry ensure the recovery of missing activists in a statement released through the party's Twitter account on Saturday.
Respect for the freedom of speech, including on social media, is the constitutional responsibility of the government and suppressing political views of opponents is condemnable, Sharif said in the statement.
He termed the harassment and forceful disappearance of "PML-N supporters" on social media an attack on the freedom of speech.
The country's law allows for everyone to oppose others' opinions and express their own, within the prescribed limits, Sharif said, demanding that the interior ministry take notice of the issue and ensure recovery of the missing party activists.
Some social media users supporting the PML-N have allegedly gone missing over the past two days.
At least two suspected of posting on social media material and content deemed to be contemptuous of major state organs were in Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) custody.
This is not the first time that Sharif has voiced concern over party loyalists going missing. Earlier, both Nawaz and his daughter Maryam claimed party workers had been picked up before NA-120 elections in Lahore.
A controversial cyber crime bill which gave the government sweeping powers to act against social media users had come into effect last year when Sharif was the prime minister.
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has also earlier accused the FIA of arresting supporters for their online activity.
Earlier this year, government and security agencies were heavily criticised after prominent social media activists went missing. Some of them returned after weeks in captivity.
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On DawnNews
Comments (99) Closed
Oct 21, 2017 04:35pm
Pakistsan is a democracy only in name. It is a military state in ideology and action.
Blames lies with politicians and educated Pakistanis as they get carried away by stirred up pseudo nationalism by the 'Interest Groups- triology of the generals, mullahs and beneficiaries of the chaos'
Absolute freedom of speech and independence of judiciary is the need of the hour.
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Oct 21, 2017 04:37pm
this guy ex ousted PM still not learnt how to deal with issues...
his govt, his hand picked ministers / his own back yard minister and yet he is making headlines by demanding recovery of his missing social media supporters ... what an irony. fate is made in Heavens. he is still not reading writing on the wall.
his rants are subsiding and sooner his family will fade away from politicis, for good for sure,, behind bars and we need the money back.
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Oct 21, 2017 04:39pm
Mian Nawaz Sharif is correct. If people are going to be arrested for expressing their views this must be done lawfully with warrants. These fellow-citizens must be allowed legal representation and tried in open court.
Cowardly kidnappings and violence behind doors to curtail our freedoms should no longer be countenanced any by free citizens if we are indeed now free citizens.
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Oct 21, 2017 04:43pm
"Some social media users supporting the PML-N have allegedly gone missing over the past two days."
Just the past two days? You have been doing the same to the opposition for many more days since you brought the law to purge those on social media. It’s your own doing and it’s your government, remember?
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Oct 21, 2017 04:46pm
Social media activists when start maligning national institutions then they should be apprehended. Democracy and freedom of speech is not limitless, there is a limit and recently some PML(N) social media activists has crossed that limit by maligning Judiciary and military.
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Oct 21, 2017 04:48pm
All political parties should think twice before making any law, any law they making today that are against the democratic values, or any deal against democratic institutions can affect them tomorrow
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Oct 21, 2017 04:48pm
Law is not a meaningful word in Pakistan. It should be.
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Oct 21, 2017 04:50pm
Corrupt Ex-PM their is a saying” what’s good for the goose is good for the ganda”. You are a hypocrite because u don’t care when the shoe is on the other foot..
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Oct 21, 2017 04:54pm
''A controversial cyber crime bill which gave the government sweeping powers to act against social media users had come into effect last year when Sharif was the prime minister''
well what we can say
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Oct 21, 2017 05:00pm
Does MNS remember what he did to Najam Sethi when he spoke freely ?
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Oct 21, 2017 05:05pm
Oh the irony.
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Oct 21, 2017 05:15pm
Let's talk about how many were killed and wounded in the Model Town massacare, under your government, while your brother was the CM of the province - before you make demands... How about who is responsible for the murder of the poor child during your pathetic circus road show from Islamabad to Lahore?
Look in the mirror and you will see a tyrant starring back!
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Oct 21, 2017 05:20pm
To whom is he asking for the release of his party activists? He is the president of the party which is ruling the country. However, if there is another government parallel with PML's government, then he should ask them by name directly.
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Oct 21, 2017 05:25pm
Deja Vu. Mr NS should have thought this when he was in charge that how such laws can be misused against political activists.
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Oct 21, 2017 05:32pm
Strange
This is PML N government and he is de facto PM. To whom is he asking?
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Oct 21, 2017 05:36pm
The cyber crime law bill was passed during his own tenure as Prime Minister. It was condemned by all and everyone. Now under the draconian provision of the same law, the activists of his daughter's media cell are being abducted and he is condemning it. So effectively he is condemning himself for passing such a law.
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Oct 21, 2017 05:38pm
Nawaz Sharif should worry about his own freedom which looks in despair at the moment. At the moment people are more interested to find the Nawaz Sharif and family end of story result rather looking at self created issues.
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Oct 21, 2017 05:44pm
I wish if you could be so vocal on when Baluch, MQM activist were gone missing but he wasn’t even he was in charge so what goes around comes around
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Oct 21, 2017 05:48pm
What about abduction of Turkish couple and handing them over? Your govt was involved in that too.
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Oct 21, 2017 05:53pm
Model Town murders, remember??
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Oct 21, 2017 05:54pm
Criminal demanding..
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Oct 21, 2017 05:57pm
Sharif sahab how dare you question these authorities.
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Oct 21, 2017 05:59pm
There is a thin line difference between freedom of speech and maligning somebody/institution by framing baseless allegations on them.
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Oct 21, 2017 06:03pm
Its PML N govt which introduced cyber crimes law to silence voices / criticism to the incumbency. now they should face the brunt. things have changed a lot. what goes around, comes around
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Oct 21, 2017 06:04pm
Sad state of affairs ... PML(N) should grow up n not pollute young n in the end do fake crying when they suffer n r taken away ... V must understand that our country is supreme n v all hv to ensure v help Pakistan grow!
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Oct 21, 2017 06:07pm
In fact it's your PML(N) Govt in Pakistan, to whom are you protesting.
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Oct 21, 2017 06:13pm
A liar and dishonest man should be on ECL and be arrested by the NAB court while proceedings are progressing in the Court..
He is creating mischief and disharmony in the society in Pakistan.
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Oct 21, 2017 06:15pm
If the government cannot protect it's own supporters, then opposition supporters don't stand a chance.
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Oct 21, 2017 06:33pm
ooh the irony. couple of months ago he was passing the law to curb social media activism. comes back to bite.
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Oct 21, 2017 06:35pm
He literally has made himself a laughing stock - always whinging and crying against own govt and correct law
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Oct 21, 2017 06:39pm
Its your own law thats being implemented. Are you critical of your own legislation? Enjoy the fruits of your own doing.
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Oct 21, 2017 06:40pm
If Nawaz Sab is correct he should be able to name the individuals who are missing. Without that no one will be able to help.
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Oct 21, 2017 06:48pm
Leave the social media activists alone. I am with MNS on this one.
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Oct 21, 2017 06:49pm
So funny he talking differently!
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Oct 21, 2017 06:51pm
NS knows only one business and that is movement of money. His comments are so useless. He wants to stay in media. Public must ignore him.
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Oct 21, 2017 06:54pm
This guy need to see the doctor.
He do not remember that he the president of the ruling party.
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Oct 21, 2017 07:04pm
@Ayub ---Everyone is scared to name them, but oing names are boys, deep state, establishment, khakee,
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Oct 21, 2017 07:05pm
It is a statement attributed to Mr Nawaz Sharif by this Twitter account which does not say at all where he said it and when and to whom.
They could have posted the video showing Mr Sharif saying this.
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Oct 21, 2017 07:07pm
Who abducted them? Security agencies? Punjab Police. They are all under your control
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Oct 21, 2017 07:20pm
@Ayub: Of course he knows the parallel government. But that government is too powerful and to deal with directly.
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Oct 21, 2017 07:24pm
Your party is Government. Who are you asking? Please name.
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Oct 21, 2017 07:25pm
Looks like, Nawaz Sharif is yet to come out of shock- Mujhe Kyun Nikala?
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Oct 21, 2017 07:25pm
Definition of NS is cheat and a liar
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Oct 21, 2017 07:26pm
he is arrested under the law made by nawaz sharif in 2016 as per BBC report
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Oct 21, 2017 07:27pm
@Ayub he is protesting against same government that disqualified him while being PM
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Oct 21, 2017 07:29pm
Very surprised the ruling party is demanding the recovery of their social media activists, to whom is asking for releases? whenever they claiming after got the heavyweight mandates we have experienced for every problem.
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Oct 21, 2017 07:34pm
@Ayub...well said Ayub sahib.
Reading this article, I almost thought that I somehow missed the elections of 2018, and it is now PTI's government, and PML-N is protesting...what a nincompoop.
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Oct 21, 2017 07:55pm
@Ayub Nawaz and PMLN is in power but they really don't have the power. The sad truth which everyone knows in Pakistan but don't dare to speak in public
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Oct 21, 2017 07:57pm
@Ayub He is asking the holy cows of Pakistan. These holy cows never care who is ruling bcz they are the real rulers of pakistan
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Oct 21, 2017 08:00pm
Victim card again in some form raised by the former PM
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Oct 21, 2017 08:02pm
And we demand that you hand over all the money you have looted and be thrown in machh jail along-with your accomplices - sons, daughter, son in law and sambdhi.
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Oct 21, 2017 08:07pm
In his second stint, he came up with laws against terror and he ended up facing them. When NS is in power, he loses his head and humility and when is out of it, he weeps.
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Oct 21, 2017 08:07pm
Judiciary is demanding recovery of stolen money. Don't change subject
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Oct 21, 2017 08:13pm
Freedom of speech does't means that you abuse the national institutions for achieving your political and personal objectives. these people should be handle with iron hand and make them a lesson for the rest who are trying to defame our army.
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Oct 21, 2017 08:14pm
I'm pretty sure the "PML-N supporters" he claims to be missing, and the people from whom he is making his demands, would have names. Claiming someone unknown was taken by someone unknown doesn't make much sense.
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Oct 21, 2017 08:18pm
If social media activist are spreading lies and acrimony, the are no different to supporters ethnic and religious tensions, both are doing the same as far as the state and country is concerned, such social media activism and Nawaz Sharifs insults and denigration of courts of law does no come under the domain of freedom of speech. This mafia ordered the hounding of PTI social media, now he is talking about freedom of speech.
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Oct 21, 2017 08:24pm
NS is corrupt,liar and money launderer who has been caught so he is trying to fool Pakistani people NOT ANYMORE
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Oct 21, 2017 08:38pm
Poor Pakistan.....state within sate!
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Oct 21, 2017 08:39pm
Own government and condemning these arrests, its a prrof that They have lost control on reigns
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Oct 21, 2017 08:47pm
He had nothing to say when the interior minister threatened the social media activists and eventually brought in measures to silence them.
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Oct 21, 2017 08:52pm
@Ayub fool.he is asking establishment .FIA name is just to fill in blanks.
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Oct 21, 2017 09:05pm
what goes round comes round.
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Oct 21, 2017 09:09pm
Sense of democracy becomes acute when one is out of power.
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Oct 21, 2017 09:13pm
@Ayub yes, it's the same people that joyfully have politicians fighting each other, for their own benefit. The deep state will always try to divide and conquer.
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Oct 21, 2017 09:19pm
If Maryam and Donald Trump would stay off Twitter everyone would be better off. The cybercrime laws cut both ways. The police agencies and the army have access to peoples ip addresses. One can buy a VPN from a service to hide his or her ip address.
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Oct 21, 2017 09:19pm
Fate of Pmln is like MQM London.Lamenting is the only option for Sharif Family.
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Oct 21, 2017 09:21pm
Once again Sicilian mafia in action to safe their mindset and cronies.
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Oct 21, 2017 09:22pm
Mr. Nawaz Sharif. It was during your prime- ministership that coercive cyber bill was passed in the parliament in which your party enjoyed absolute mandate. As leader of the house, why did you allow this bill to pass which has restricted freedom of expression? Now you are complaining about the missing persons - What did you do to recover them and stop extra-judicial acts of the government when you were the prime minister? It is too late now, please hold your peace. It is amazing that when people are in their public positions, they do nothing to make changes and after they leave or are forced to leave, they miraculously gain 20/20 vision
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Oct 21, 2017 09:22pm
Strange his party is in government and he is making this statement. Either leave or admit.
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Oct 21, 2017 09:24pm
To whom? To his own PM who says Nawaz Sharif is still my PM and whom he can fire in the blink of an eye
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Oct 21, 2017 09:25pm
Why is a criminal getting this attention in the media?
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Oct 21, 2017 09:29pm
Who introduced the notorious cyber crime law? Was it not PML-N govt?
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Oct 21, 2017 09:44pm
Useless man
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Oct 21, 2017 09:50pm
@rajab: The Real rulers: Military
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Oct 21, 2017 10:26pm
He is indirectly accusing military agencies for this . What a shame that a disgraced prime minister will accuse one of the finest agencies to settle personal score by undermining national security and trying to tarnish our army image.
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Oct 21, 2017 10:36pm
@Ayub
Are you joking?
You could be the victim. Me, too.
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Oct 21, 2017 10:38pm
@Saad Khan Sardar Who will decide where this line exist. Secondly, are they so weak mere words hurt them?
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Oct 21, 2017 10:40pm
@Saad Khan Sardar
We see this everyday.
You can blame anybody for any crime.
Look at the social media, almost 90 % of the content/trends is blame game.
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Oct 21, 2017 10:46pm
@sajed syed Nonsense.
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Oct 21, 2017 10:46pm
@Truth Seeker Nawaz should observe and follow the law.
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Oct 21, 2017 10:51pm
Well it was your parliament that passed passed the cyber crime bill. Why are you crying foul now when your people get caught.
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Oct 21, 2017 11:03pm
Definitely time is out now to tell such things. When you was P.M, you never ever think so. You remained busy in other jobs, so the time has gone. Time and justice has value.
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Oct 21, 2017 11:06pm
Good omen that NS now cares about pak constitution!!
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Oct 21, 2017 11:08pm
One wonders if it could perhaps be that his support is waning and others not having benefited to any great degree with their association with him are distancing themselves. Bad smells linger!
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Oct 21, 2017 11:18pm
Hypocrisy in action. He is asking the government in Islamabad, his own party's government. Some call him de facto PM, but here he is posing as leader of the opposition. He pretends to champion the cause of freedom expression, which he has never believed in..
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Oct 21, 2017 11:32pm
Peace & Patience. Unfortunately Pakistani democrats don't respect democracy with Peace & Patience. Instead of bearing and accepting the majority decisions with Peace & Patience, our democrats leave the party itself and make a new faction out of it. And this has continued since long. The only thing they excel in is throwing mud on Pakistan Military. Democrats don't respect democracy. Peace & Patience
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Oct 21, 2017 11:43pm
Nawaz has made it clear that he is a desi liberal & he doesn’t know what is the difference between freedom of speech & spreading hatred.
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Oct 21, 2017 11:45pm
Why he is not mobilizing the masses? He should lead a revolution.
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Oct 22, 2017 12:15am
Nawaz Sharif is turning out to be another Altaf Hussain and his politics soon will be restricted to Lahore only. Pakistan new generation have rejected Sharif and Zardari kingdoms and they are very serious to remove corruption from Pakistani politics once for all.
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Oct 22, 2017 12:17am
Enough is enough, NS is cheat n liars!
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Oct 22, 2017 12:17am
@sajed syed with freedom comes RESPONSIBILITY!
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Oct 22, 2017 12:21am
We the people of Pakistan demand looted money by you and and your family bring it back to Pakistan!!
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Oct 22, 2017 12:46am
Long Live Nawaz Sharif.
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Oct 22, 2017 12:50am
I never agreed on anything what he said previous ly...but principally he is right. It is all about the laws if we have any regarding the freedom of speech...if we have the law on expressing our views...if the government has nothing to hide wonder what they are scared of...after all u are what u share..it is a gauge to gauge the mood of a nation...one can collect the data and use it change the status quo..There are many things of which a wise government might wish to be ignorant...
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Oct 22, 2017 12:55am
@rajab , the generals
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Oct 22, 2017 12:57am
@Ayub , generals
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Oct 22, 2017 02:06am
Last I checked it was PML (N) government, so who is the ex-PM asking to recover, if PML (N) cannot guarantee the safety of its citizenry they should resign.
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Oct 22, 2017 06:33am
we have deep state operatives?
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Oct 22, 2017 07:49am
They made the law, they dont mind when it is targetin pti or other parties. They start complaining when they are hit.
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