Social media wars: Punjab govt going all out to counter PTI presence

LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf may have a large online presence, but the Punjab government is not taking matters lying down as the social media team, working directly under the CM’s office, is adding to its strength.

The move comes with the 2018 General Elections now fast approaching, The Express Tribune has learnt.

According to government officials, this social media team, headed by Abu Bakar, is working directing under the Chief Minister’s Task Force for Media rather than the Public Relations Department director general.

Abu Bakar, while talking to The Express Tribune, confirms more people are being hired, but claims he is not privy to any further details.

He says he is not fully aware of the total number people on the social media team which he heads, nor does he know about the number of people being hired. He also refused to answer questions about the assignments or operational command of his social media team.



According to DGPR, a new office is being established for the Chief Minister Social Media Team in C-Block of Model Town. He revealed the office was chosen due to its close proximity with the Chief Minister House in H-Block which is also in Model Town.

The officials revealed another office had previously been chosen in Garden Town, but the deal to acquire the space fell through.  Well-placed sources revealed that Abu Bakar, along with his social media team, was working out of the DGPR’s office. They said despite the team drawing all its perks and privileges from DGPR, it was directly under the command of the CM’s task force.

Sources further revealed that the strengthened social media team will help the Chief Minister’s Office prepare for the upcoming elections and to counter the propaganda against the Punjab government.

Acting Information Secretary Raja Jahangir, on the other hand, said this social media team would work under DGPR and was established to ensure the online presence of the Punjab Government, not the CM or his Office.

He said 20 or 30 people were being hired for the social media and 14 of the vacant slots had already been filled. Jahangir continued that the group would start functioning after Eid.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2017.