Instagram head of former Pakistani PM Imran Khan kidnapped in Lahore | World News

Pakistani authorities allegedly kidnapped the Instagram chief of Tehreek-e-Insaf Pakistan here on Thursday, part of the federal government’s ongoing crackdown on social media activists from the party of ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The FIA, in cooperation with intelligence agencies and police, has targeted social media activists, especially Khan’s Pakistan Justice Movement (PTI), following an alleged online smear campaign against Gen Asim, Pakistan’s army chief. The party launched a national campaign, Munir.

Khan claimed on Twitter on Thursday that the party’s Instagram chief, Attaur Rehman, was “picked up” from Lahore on Thursday morning.

“Another kidnapping incident late last night – this time by Attaur Rehman, Head of PTI Instagram from Faisal town, Lahore. Strongly condemn these ongoing kidnappings of our social media team. Atta has been with us for 15 years No. Powerful people violate all laws with impunity,” Khan demanded his release on Twitter.

Last week, intelligence agencies singled out another leading social media activist PTI – “Humara Pak” chief Waqas Amjad – who was allegedly tortured in judicial custody.

Azhar Mashwani, Khan’s social media focal point, was also picked up by authorities last month.

Khan accused the military of “kidnapping” social media activists from his party.

Deploring Amjad’s torture, he said: “Today, Pakistan is completely the law of the jungle.”

“The order came from the ‘superior body (agency)’, which seems to be above all laws, and the kidnapping was done first, followed by a false FIR registration,” Khan lamented.

Khan said Pakistan had been reduced to a “banana republic” where there was no rule of law but the law of the jungle.

Khan, 70, slammed the PMLN-led coalition government and its handlers in the army for registering more than 140 FIRs against him.

“As one FIR’s bail is granted, another FIR pops up. I have over 145 FIRs against me. It’s a circus of FIRs. My Bani Gala janitor, my Zaman Park chef, our social media Mashwani, Waqas and my security chief, Ghumman — all were kidnapped and tortured to try and update their software,” Khan said.

PTI has written to international forums, drawing their attention to human rights violations, kidnapping, torture of political workers and the suppression of dissenting voices by the fascist regime of Sheikh Baz Sharif with the help of military establishments.

According to Khan, more than 3,000 PTI workers are suffering without charge in various prisons in the country.

Khan, the cricketer-turned-politician, was ousted last April after losing a no-confidence vote, becoming the first Pakistani prime minister to be ousted by a vote in the National Assembly.

Since his ouster, he has been calling for snap polls in the country to overthrow what he calls an “imported government” led by Prime Minister Sharif.