Talal Chaudhry warns those involved could face legal action if they continue their activities
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry speaks to reporters outside Parliament in Islamabad on October 9, 2025.
ISLAMABAD:
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said on Monday that Pakistan had uncovered ample evidence of coordinated, paid social media campaigns carried out through fake accounts, largely run from abroad, warning that those involved could face legal action if they continued their activities that harm the country.
Addressing a detailed press conference, the minister said the government had recently provided background information to foreign media on how terrorists and organized networks were exploiting social media platforms to manipulate public opinion in Pakistan.
He welcomed the international coverage of Pakistan’s position, saying that leading global newspapers and news channels had highlighted the issue responsibly.
Chaudhry stressed that while the government strongly supports freedom of expression, it must operate within constitutional limits.
“Freedom of expression is not without responsibility,” he said, adding that no one has the right to hurt religious sentiments, target friendly countries or slander individuals and institutions under the guise of freedom of expression.
The minister explained that investigations revealed how artificial trends are created and “sold” through WhatsApp groups and other platforms.
According to the evidence presented, individuals are paid small amounts – ranging from a few rupees to a few cents per message – to tweet or forward messages repeatedly, sometimes hundreds of times per day.
Many of these accounts, he explained, originate from outside Pakistan and are run by companies using fake identities. “These are anonymous accounts, often created in the name of women, news agencies, provinces or cities, but they are not real,” Chaudhry said.
He added that account names are frequently changed depending on the campaign being promoted, making it harder to trace their origins.
The state minister highlighted that the same networks were found promoting content related to banned terrorist organizations such as the TTP and BLA, as well as unrelated international causes, demonstrating that the activity is commercial rather than ideological.
“These trends are neither organic nor natural. They are paid for and managed by companies outside Pakistan,” he said.
Chaudhry clarified that the evidence shared was collected directly from the same social media platforms being misused, including details of temporary WhatsApp groups formed to track trends, and then deleted to avoid detection.
He said social media companies’ community guidelines were being violated, leading to account shutdowns and further action by the platforms themselves.
While emphasizing that the government does not want ordinary citizens to face criminal charges, the minister issued a clear warning. “If people knowingly participate in wage trends that go against the country, they could face legal consequences,” he said.
With the contribution of the APP
