Vilifying the PM: Scandal mongers to face criminal prosecution, says minister

Action against those involved in propaganda should not be called political victimisation, says Marriyum Aurangzeb

ISLAMABAD: Information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has cautioned that anyone running a vilification campaign against the prime minister and his family on social media could face prosecution under the cybercrime law.

Addressing a news conference along with PML-N leader Daniyal Aziz, the minister said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had mounted a social media campaign to influence the court verdict in the Panama Papers case.



Action against those involved in baseless propaganda should not be called political victimisation, she told reporters in Islamabad on Monday.

“PTI continues to create falsehoods to discredit Nawaz Sharif and malign members of his family,” she claimed.

The PM’s family was named in the Panama Papers, which comprised 11.5 million documents, showing how some of the world’s most powerful people have secreted away their money in offshore holdings.



During the 26 hearings of the case, whose verdict has been reserved, the information minister said the PM did not seek privileges and exemptions given to him by the Constitution, adding that the ruling party would accept the decision that is announced by the apex court.

Commenting on the alleged media trial of Maryam Nawaz on social media, the minister said: "The status of Maryam Nawaz will be decided by people of Pakistan”.