PTI Members Skip JIT Appearance Over Alleged Disinformation Campaign

Islamabad-The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership has refused to appear before the Islamabad Joint Investigation Team (JIT), despite being summoned in connection with an alleged social media propaganda campaign. The JIT had issued notices to 25 PTI leaders, including Muhammad Arshad, Atta-ur-Rehman, and Azhar Mashwani, to investigate their role in spreading disinformation and inciting unrest through social media platforms .

The investigation is being conducted under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, which empowers the authorities to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in online activities that threaten national security, public order, or incite violence,

PTI sources claim that the leaders did not receive any official notices, which is why they have decided not to comply with the JIT summons.

Additionally, PTI’s social media team is currently abroad, while the central leadership is not in Islamabad, making their appearance before the JIT unlikely.

Notices were reportedly issued to several key PTI figures, including Sheikh Waqas Akram, Zulfi Bukhari, Aun Abbas, and Aliya Hamza, but none of them appeared before the investigation team.

The JIT, working under the supervision of Islamabad IG Police, had called all 25 leaders to appear at IG Office Police Lines by 12 PM today. However, no PTI leader showed up by the time this report was filed.

Sources suggest that JIT may proceed with legal action against PTI leaders for non-compliance with the summons.

PTI to Organize Peaceful Protests, Says Salman Akram Raja

Meanwhile, in a separate legal development, the Islamabad District and Sessions Court has granted post-arrest bail to 15 PTI workers who were detained in connection with the November 26 protest case.

The court approved their bail against surety bonds of Rs. 20,000 each, instructing their lawyer to submit an affidavit ensuring that the accused will not participate in such activities in the future.

Judge Aamir Zia’s written decision noted that while the accused were not directly named in the case, they were identified in the recognition parade, but legal requirements were not fully met.

The judge emphasised that since co-accused in the same case had already been granted bail by the Islamabad High Court, these individuals also deserved the same relief.