State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry has targeted opposition political parties and foreign actors for concocting “paid” social media trends against Pakistan. According to Mr Chaudhry, the Pakistani government has unearthed coordinated social media campaigns on Whatsapp groups and X that promote terrorism and incite anti-state sentiment meant to manipulate public opinion. Mr Chaudhry also asserted that accounts affiliated with PTI are at the root of many such trends spreading misinformation against the state, and called for harsh punishments against individuals who knowingly participate in “paid trends”. Driven by a commercial rather than ideological logic, he also clarified that such rhetoric is not reflective of public opinion.