Revealed! Pakistan Army's secret programme to target dissenters on social media

Pakistan military has enlisted thousands of serving officers in its clandestine programme to launch targeted online attacks on judges, journalists and activists it views as political enemies, according to a report in Dropsite.

Pakistan'sInter-Services Public Relations Department (ISPR) launched the programme known as“Army Agahi Network,” or Army Awareness Network (AAN) last year under which military officers create fake social media profiles to push pro-military messages.

ISPR designates those going against the state institutions and personalities on social media as 'digital terrorists' who are then subjected todefamatory accusations and threats. Supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) fare high in the list of 'digital terrorists'.

Officers in the AAN receive approved messages from their superiors and then share those messages on social media under their aliases.

"We are being given instructions by our superiors to spread political posts despite knowing that this is a violation of our oath of office and the constitution," one of the sources was quoted as saying by the publication.

"People are being made to post against members of the judiciary and civil society. We are becoming involved in political fights that are harming the army's image."

Earlier this year, Pakistan blocked access to social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter), citing national concerns. 'Since the ban on X, ISPR has issued new directives, urging its officers to focus their attention on Facebook and launch online attacks.

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Pakistan develops its WhatsApp alternative

In August last year, the then-IT minister, Syed Aminul Haque announced plans to develop a WhatsApp alternative for the federal government officers.Pakistani authorities had been on the fence about WhatsApp and the security the Meta-owned platform provides after nearly two dozen federal officials were targeted by Pegasus, a spyware developed by the Israeli cybersecurity firm NSO, in 2019.

Fast forward to August this year and the app, known as 'Beep', is in the final stages of its trial.According to reports, the Pakistani government is now planning to roll out the application for all its employees within the next 45 days.

Shaza Fatima Khwaja, the state minister for information technology and telecommunication, said 'Beep' would help ensure “data privacy and protection” in government communications.

(With inputs from agencies)