ISLAMABAD: Social media accounts linked to political parties were involved in the recent social media smear campaign against Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa and Supreme Court judges. An old letter exempting the wives of judges from checking at airports was used with regular planning, the matter was thrown out without investigation and a smear campaign was launched on social media against the judiciary, judges and their families. Online
Investigations by the institutions revealed propaganda accounts believed to be linked to a political party behind the campaign to defame judges.
According to government sources, the Aviation Division’s post dated October 12 was first posted on December 16 (after about 2 months) by an account named JB affiliated to a political party, followed by the account of Umar Mehmood Hayat. The above post was posted on December 16th at 11:49 PM. From this account, the judges and judiciary have been criticized for the cases of PTI founder chairman.
According to government sources, a few social media activists also pushed the targeted agenda of that particular political party, and accounts linked to a political party actively participated in the campaign to assassinate judges and took the lead in spreading false propaganda virally.
Social media activists and a few vloggers who support a particular political party have been at the forefront of creating social media trends.
Even by taking screenshots of the news broadcast on a few TV channels, the nefarious purpose was furthered by the trolls connected to the political party on social media.
Propaganda was later countered by the clarification issued by the Supreme Court, but by then the character assassination campaign had reached its peak.
The sad thing is that the spreaders of this fake news did not even give an explanation to their followers, nor did they apologize.
This is not the first time, the political party has tried every trick in the past to put the judiciary and judges under pressure.
Former chairman of the political party has openly threatened Judge Zeba, this case is still under hearing.
According to analysts, Judge Humayun Dilawar, who sentenced the former chairman, was also attacked by political party workers in London.
The apparent aim of targeting Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa and Supreme Court judges may be to influence the decisions of important court cases. There is also a commission to protect the reputation of the political party in the elections, for which pressure is being increased on the judiciary.
Legal experts said that insulting the higher judiciary on social media is a reprehensible act.
