Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the creation of a 10-member Joint Task Force (JTF) on Monday to identify and prosecute those responsible for spreading misinformation and inciting unrest following the recent Islamabad protests.
The protests, organized by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in November 2024, resulted in violent clashes between PTI supporters and security forces, causing significant damage to the economy.
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The JTF will be led by the Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and include representatives from top intelligence and law enforcement agencies such as ISI, MI, IB, Ministry of Interior, and the FIA’s Cyber Crime Wing. It will also collaborate with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of IT to address online misinformation.
Sharif emphasized that the task force’s mission will be to identify and bring to justice those behind disinformation campaigns, including both domestic and foreign elements. The JTF will work to track false propaganda, propose legal actions, and recommend policy reforms to combat digital misinformation.
The November protests, led by PTI figures like Bushra Bibi and Ali Amin Gandapur, resulted in violence and disruption across Islamabad, severely affecting the economy. Sharif condemned PTI’s actions, accusing them of deliberately destabilizing the country for political gain, and warned that internal and external enemies would continue to exploit any weaknesses.
Despite ongoing unrest, Sharif acknowledged signs of economic recovery, including a decline in inflation and a milestone in the stock market.
