YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan and several other PTI-backed social media activists have shared a clipping of a newspaper from the year 2018 that reported the news about 21 Pakistan Mulsim League Nawaz (PMLN) candidates who returned the party tickets prior to the last general elections.
Imran Riaz Khan by posting a clipping from a five-year-old newspaper on Twitter has implied that this is the latest development, apparently in a bid to establish the perception among netizens that PMLN leaders are losing faith in their party.
Tweet of Imran Riaz Khan
Many internet users responded back to his tweet and accused him of executing baseless propaganda, advising him to avoid spreading fake news.
As per details, 21 PMLN candidates from South Punjab parted ways with the party and opted to contest elections under the symbol of the 'Jeep'. Ali Gorchani, Pervez Gorchani, Hafeez-Ul-Rehman, Amjad Khoosa, Mohsin Khoosa, Fida Hussain, Sultan Mehmood, Raza Ali Jillani, Shaukat Lalika, Saeed Manees, Yousaf Dareshk, Mumtaz Chang, and Khalid Ghani were among the 'disgruntled' leaders who switched their loyalties right before the 2018 elections.
Complete clipping of the newspaper along with its date mentioned on it.
The journalist, who was once a prime-time program anchor on a mainstream news channel, is now active in defending Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s policies and often denigrates his political rivals. He has also faced cases and arrest due to his support to Imran Khan. However, this tweet was not good journalism.
Imran Riaz Khan is often seen at rallies and protests staged by the PTI, and he is vocal in justifying the policies and plans of the party through his Youtube channel and Twitter accounts. PTI leaders and workers also consider him the ‘best man for the job’ and praise him well on every platform. Even a month ago, ‘Imran Riaz Khan Information Minister’ emerged as a top trend on Twitter, probably due to the efforts of the PTI social media team.
Imran Riaz Khan is not alone. Many journalists have become 'party spokespersons' just for popularity, or personal gains, badly tarnishing the public perception and credibility of journalism as a profession and societal force.
