‘Security risk’: Sharjeel calls for ban on PTI’s social media wing

Published September 13, 2022
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon addresses a press conference in Karachi on Tuesday. — DawnNewsTV
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon addresses a press conference in Karachi on Tuesday. — DawnNewsTV

Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Tuesday called for a ban to be imposed on the PTI’s social media team for becoming a “security risk” to the country after allegedly spearheading a social campaign on social media regarding the misappropriation of relief goods for Sindh flood victims.

Memon had first made the allegations in a press conference on Monday and demanded the government take “immediate action” against elements involved in the “heinous campaign”.

Doubling down on his claims in a press conference in Karachi today, the Sindh information minister said PTI Chairman Imran Khan was also involved in the alleged campaign.

“At this point I think, [considering] what the PTI and Imran Khan’s role is, I appeal to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), chief justice of the Supreme Court and all important institutions to take immediate notice of this disgusting campaign.

“Immediately and completely ban the PTI’s social media wing because the social media team and Imran Khan himself have become a security risk for the country and the nation,” Memon said.

He added that it was inappropriate to stop someone from politics, adding, however, that if someone for the sake of their politics was engaged in enmity against the state, nation and flood affectees and a party was sending a message to the world to not help flood-hit people then “there is no lower or shameful action than this that I’ve seen before in my life.”

“It is everyone’s legal, constitutional and national responsibility that such a party and such people be immediately brought under the law.”

Memon said that if foreign aid stopped then Pakistan could face a very big crisis. “People are fighting the war for their survival and one party, the PTI, its conspiracies cannot be tolerated in any situation,” he added.

Reiterating his appeal, he once again appealed to the ECP, SC, federal government and interior ministry to become active and take immediate notice of the issue.

The minister alleged that the PTI was trying to send a message to the world about the alleged discrepancies in relief efforts to make the government unsuccessful and so flood affectees could not get aid.

“The message they’re sending… Can they be called patriots? Can we say these people are loyal to the country or helping flood affectees? Even India and Israel didn’t do such a disgusting campaign as the PTI is doing.”

He said that a party that called itself a federal party was now “unfortunately playing the role of an enemy of the country”.

Meanwhile, he said the Sindh government was wholly committed and focused on relief, rescue and rehabilitation efforts and serving the people instead of engaging in politics.

Memon said Imran and PTI’s right to engage in politics after the above-mentioned alleged campaign had finished. He added that no political party had engaged in politics or similar actions as the above during moments of crisis and calamity in the country’s history.

“Morally, legally and constitutionally, Imran has lost his right to engage in politics. He has no right to politics in this country. He should be behind jail with all those who did this.”

The information minister also took various questions and informed journalists in the press conference regarding various aspects of the Sindh government’s ongoing flood operations and efforts.

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