CHAIRING a meeting in Islamabad on Friday, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah directed to launch a crackdown against those who share defamatory content on social media and impersonate others.
The decision comes after Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal was heckled by PTI supporters at a restaurant on Islamabad-Lahore Motorway last week.
Over the past few months, the State institutions, especially Pakistan Army and Supreme Court, are unfortunately being ridiculed and attacked through malicious social media campaigns and trends.
What happened with Ahsan Iqbal at a public place is also really reprehensible which is yet another manifestation of rising intolerance in our society.
Those behind and spearheading a propaganda campaign on social media are doing no favour to the society and the country but, in fact, playing in the hands of the enemy which has always desired to spread chaos and anarchy in Pakistan.
Everybody has the right to express his opinion and the dissent also needs to be respected as it is the hallmark of a democratic society but this should be done with responsibility whilst maintaining decency.
At present, however, what is being posted on social media by the supporters of different political parties is totally rubbish which has made our country a laughing stock in the world.
Action should definitely be taken against these elements trying to instigate hate and anarchy and given strict punishment according to the law.
However, this crackdown should not smack of a foul-play and target only the political opponents.
The action must be indiscriminate and across the board, otherwise, this will only provide more fuel to polarization and subsequently unrest which Pakistan cannot afford at all.
Whilst laws also need to be framed to curb fake news and immoral content on the social media, heavy responsibility rests with the leadership of political parties to calm down their supporters and take steps that do not divide but unite the nation.
At present political intolerance has polarized our society to extreme levels.
For their petty political interests, the political leadership should not put the interests of the country at stake.
