ISLAMABAD: In a bizarre message, ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Twitter account has equated freedom of expression and criticism by media to ‘expressing enemy’s stance’ and ‘treason’ against people.
The PTI's account tweeted a picture with the message, in which two individuals with their backs can be seen exchanging envelopes, referring to the widespread slur against journalists of being ‘lifafa’.
Media houses & journalists must take care that in their quest for criticism on State, they intentionally or unintentionally do not end up propagating enemy’s stance. Freedom of expression is immense power. And with great power there is great responsibility!#JournalismNotAgenda
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Following the appearance of the tweet, a hashtag #JournalismNotAgenda was seen being shared with multiple tweets.
The part time journalists and full time propagandist and social media activists are getting desperate to pay off their master’s favours showered to them in past but it must not come at the cost of the future of this country. #JournalismNotAgenda
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PTI’s own account made several tweets regarding ‘responsible’ journalism.
Freedom of press is a building block of a democratic society. However, it's not an absolute right & comes with responsibility.
Regurgitating propaganda to serve vested interests, running character assassination campaigns & fake news undermine freedom of press.#JournalismNotAgenda
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Media is often considered a pillar of state. It is sad to see certain media factions & seasoned journalists who also scrutinize Prime Minister Khan’s personal life in the name of freedom of media later accuse the State for curtailing media freedom. #JournalismNotAgenda
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PM’s Focal Person on Digital Media Arslan Khalid also posted a similar tweet with the same hashtag.
Let's get rid of the 'sabse pehlay, sabse aagay' breaking news culture. Nation expects maturity from media ppl #JournalismNotAgenda
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According to a Dawn report, PTI’s Information Secretary Omar Sarfraz downplayed any targeting of media through the party’s social media team.
Sarfraz said that there were multiple individuals behind social media accounts and freelances who operate without any signature mark.
He said that the PTI strictly monitors media and sometimes some individuals on social media act on their own.
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