Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Tariq Fazal Chaudhry alleged on Thursday that the YouTubers had been trained to malign the government’s reputation through orchestrated campaigns.
Expressing his thoughts on Samaa TV programme, "Nadeem Malik Live", Chaudhry said: "Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has not only made statements but will also take decisive action to move the country forward."
He said: "The premier has demonstrated a serious approach towards national progress and expressed a political and democratic mindset."
“The prime minister conveyed his commitment to taking the country forward with sincerity,” said Chaudhry.
He added that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) should act sensibly and allow the system to function without disruption.
Commenting on PTI’s political approach, Chaudhry likened politics to a Test match, whereas he criticised the PTI for adopting a style resembling a T20 game.
“The prime minister has already set the terms of engagement in the political field,” he stated.
Referring to the legal proceedings against PTI leader Mian Ghous, Chaudhry confirmed that the anti-corruption department had arrested him and presented him before the court. He expressed the desire for PTI to return to the political process through dialogue rather than confrontation.
“PTI’s popularity is nothing more than a bubble, as it lacks any real vision,” he asserted. He accused PTI of disrupting the system and preventing its smooth operation. Chaudhry also criticised social media trends, noting that despite attempts to present a positive narrative on the platform ‘X’, abusive language always dominated the comments section.
He emphasised that even in nations where complete freedom of speech existed, institutions were not targeted in such a manner.
“The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) prohibits endorsing attacks on state institutions,” he stated.
The PML-N stalwart was of the view that criticising the government’s performance did not fall under the scope of electronic crime laws.
Chaudhry maintained that deliberate efforts had been made to spread fake news and conduct character assassination campaigns against the government. “YouTubers were specifically trained for this purpose,” he alleged.
– Govt lacked sincerity in negotiations, says Gul –
PTI leader Zartaj Gul criticised the government for using the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) to consolidate power, while alleging that restrictions had been imposed on the media and women had been imprisoned in unprecedented numbers during the PML-N's tenure.
Expressing her thoughts on Samaa TV programme, "Nadeem Malik Live", Gul stated that the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) would observe a ‘Black Day’ against the controversial PECA law.
“We will also mark 8th February as a Black Day,” she declared.
Gul confirmed that PTI had submitted a request for a public gathering in Lahore on 8th February, while she asserted that the entire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would assemble in Swabi on the same day.
Referring to the incidents of 9th May and 26th November, Gul maintained that if investigations were conducted, the findings would expose PML-N as the ultimate beneficiary. “Once a judicial commission is formed, the decision will neither be in the hands of the government nor ours,” she stated.
She criticised the government’s approach to negotiations, claiming that the Prime Minister attempted to portray himself as being serious about dialogue, whereas reality suggested otherwise. “The Prime Minister should also clarify what the Interior Minister was doing in the United States,” she remarked.
Gul lamented that despite PTI’s founder being deprived of basic facilities in prison, the party had still engaged in negotiations. However, she alleged that the government had shown no genuine commitment to the process.
Raising concerns over political victimisation, she revealed that two days earlier, MNA Mian Ghaus had been taken from his home, and there had been no trace of him since then. “The victims of May 9 and November 26 incidents were our people, while the government emerged as the beneficiary,” she asserted.
She further claimed that the invitation for negotiations had not even been included in the cabinet’s agenda, reinforcing PTI’s stance that the ruling party had never intended to engage in meaningful dialogue.
