Punjab Government Denies Allegations Asking Employees to Share Patriotic Tweets:
The Punjab government denied claims that it had told its public relations team to share patriotic tweets, following the circulation of a viral notification claiming that the Directorate General Public Relations had made such a request.
The Punjab Public Relations Department denied the accusations and urged:
“All DGPR officers … to create their [Twitter] accounts with [Twitter ids] other than with their own or office names” was circulated by it, adding that “some elements want to fulfill their nefarious purposes under its guise.”
The Punjab Government Announced on Twitter: “A letter from the Public Relations Department of Punjab is circulating on social media, which is completely fake in its text and structure.”
Tweet further Added: “The department has nothing to do with this fake office order. Some elements want to fulfill their nefarious purposes under its guise. There is no official stamp on this fake letter either.”
Notification
A notification that appeared to come from the department in issue recently began spreading on social media, drawing the ire of many Twitter users.
The Notification read: “The competent authority has directed all DGPR officers posted at HQs office, Divisions and districts to create their tweeter accounts with tweeter Id other than with their own or office names. (For example “love Pakistan”, “Pakistan Zindabad”, “Beautyful Pakistan”, “Pak Dharti”, “Brave People” etc). The task may be accomplished till tomorrow on June, 02, 2023 positively. It may be treated as top priority. The new tweeter Ids may be shared with under signed at 0333-4969316 in box.”
Journalists and Twitter users who strongly criticised of the government’s use of official resources to spread messages on Twitter posted the disputed document widely.
However, the notification’s spelling mistakes and date problems raise serious questions.
Its lack of formal seals or approvals from pertinent authorities also raises questions about its legitimacy.
