Imran Khan
ISLAMABAD: An official probe has revealed that all three leading verified and official social media accounts of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)—@ImranKhan, @Tehreek-e-Insaf, and @PTIOfficial—belong to the party’s jailed founder and former chairman, Imran Khan. These accounts are reportedly managed from abroad under Khan’s instructions, which are conveyed through his sister, Aleema Khan.
Investigations into PTI’s social media operations suggest that these platforms were allegedly used to target Pakistan’s military leadership, including Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, and were instrumental in aggressive digital campaigns. The findings indicate that these accounts are operated by individuals based overseas, personally designated by Imran Khan, who originally created them.
Legal Implications for Imran Khan
Should criminal proceedings be initiated based on the government’s inquiry, Imran Khan could face direct legal consequences, as these accounts—accused of spreading anti-army and anti-state content—are said to be under his ownership.
Sources claim that not only has Imran Khan himself admitted to this before the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in the past, but several PTI leaders currently under investigation have also corroborated this information before a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) led by the Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Control Over PTI’s Social Media
According to insiders, no senior PTI leader—including PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, Secretary General Suleman Akram Raja, and Information Secretary Shaikh Waqas Akram—has any control or influence over these social media accounts, despite their massive following. Instead, sources allege that two key individuals, Jibran Ilyas and Azhar Mashwani, operate these accounts from overseas.
Jibran Ilyas, reportedly based in the United States, is said to be the head of PTI’s social media team and is known for maintaining contact with various vloggers and social media influencers to amplify PTI’s digital campaigns. Meanwhile, Azhar Mashwani, who was previously in Pakistan, allegedly left for the United Kingdom following the government’s post-May 9 crackdown on PTI.
It is further alleged that Aleema Khan plays a pivotal role in feeding PTI’s official social media accounts on behalf of Imran Khan. She is reportedly in regular contact with Jibran Ilyas, Azhar Mashwani, and Ali Malik to oversee PTI’s narrative-building strategies, manage social media campaigns, and coordinate the dissemination of political messaging.
Some of this content has been deemed anti-military and anti-Pakistan by the government and security establishment. Additionally, Aleema Khan is believed to be in touch with several YouTubers who are currently residing abroad.
JIT Investigation and Summons
PTI’s social media activities have long been under the authorities’ radar due to their alleged anti-state and anti-army content. While prior investigations were conducted, a new JIT was recently established under the Islamabad IGP to further examine “malicious social media campaigns.”
As part of the inquiry, the JIT has issued summons to 15 senior PTI leaders, some of whom have appeared before the investigation team, while others have yet to respond. Among those called for questioning are:
- Barrister Gohar (PTI Chairman)
- Hammad Azhar
- Salman Akram Raja
- Raoof Hasan
- Asad Qaiser
- Aun Abbas
- Waqas Akram
- Firdous Shamim Naqvi
- Khalid Khurshid Khan
- Aliya Hamza
- Kanwal Shauzab
- Taimoor Saleem Khan
- Shah Farman
- Shehbaz Shabbir
- Mian Muhammad Aslam
Additionally, 10 PTI social media team members have also been summoned, including:
- Asif Rasheed
- Muhammad Arshad
- Sibghatullah Warq
- Azhar Mashwani
- Muhammad Nauman Afzal
- Jibran Ilyas
- Syed Salman Raza Zaidi
- Zulfi Bukhari
- Moosa Warq
- Ali Husnain Malik
As investigations continue, authorities are closely monitoring PTI’s digital footprint, with possible legal repercussions for those involved. If further evidence confirms these allegations, Imran Khan and his digital media team could face significant legal challenges in Pakistan.
