The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) announced on Monday the arrest of a suspect from Banigala, Islamabad, for allegedly conducting an “anti-state campaign” on social media following the Jaffar Express attack in Balochistan.
The attack occurred on Tuesday afternoon when the Jaffar Express, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar with 440 passengers onboard, was ambushed by Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) militants. The assailants opened fire on the train and took passengers hostage, prompting security forces to launch a two-day rescue operation.
By Wednesday evening, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), confirmed the operation’s conclusion. He stated that 33 terrorists had been neutralized, while 26 hostages, including 18 security personnel, lost their lives. However, he clarified that no hostages were harmed in the final rescue phase. Additionally, five security personnel were martyred during the operation.
According to an FIA spokesperson, the suspect, identified as Haider Saeed, was apprehended in a raid for “spreading a hate campaign against state institutions.” The agency accused him of sharing negative propaganda and derogatory content regarding the Jaffar Express attack.
The FIA further alleged that Saeed had been “supporting and promoting banned terrorist organizations on social media” and actively engaging in a “poisonous campaign against state institutions while sharing inflammatory statements in favor of terrorists.”
Authorities have seized his social media accounts and digital evidence, launching a formal investigation. The FIA warned that strict legal action would be taken against him.
On March 16, the FIA’s cybercrime wing registered a First Information Report (FIR), a copy of which is available with Dawn.com. The FIR alleges that the suspect disseminated false and misleading information online.
It states, “[The suspect] is found sharing highly intimidating content/tweets on social media/Twitter….”
Furthermore, it claims, “The user propagated an intimidating tweet glorifying the banned Balochistan Liberation Army with criminal intent to coerce, intimidate, and create fear, panic, and insecurity among the government and the public.”
The FIR describes Saeed’s actions as an attempt to “fan insurgency and subvert the state.” Additionally, a YouTube channel linked to Saeed reportedly contains pro-PTI content dating back to November 2022.
A post from PTI’s official X account yesterday described Saeed as a “committed activist and supporter of Imran Khan.” It also quoted his father, who claimed their residence was raided by “police and intelligence personnel.”
Punjab Minister Criticizes PTI for Alleged Anti-State Narrative
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari strongly criticized PTI for allegedly leading a “poisonous” campaign against state institutions and security forces. Addressing the Jaffar Express incident, she emphasized the need for national unity, stating, “At times like these, political divisions should be set aside in favor of standing with the country and its institutions. However, one party persistently runs anti-state campaigns, which our adversaries exploit.”
Bokhari pointed out the involvement of Indian media in shaping negative narratives about Pakistan. “Their media was already prepared with AI-generated footage to depict Pakistan as a failed state during the attack.”
She further alleged that PTI’s social media activity mirrored that of Indian media. “The similarities in messaging are not a coincidence,” she remarked, claiming that PTI’s official X handle had posted tweets that seemed to support the attackers.
Additionally, Bokhari criticized Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur for neglecting security concerns in his province. She noted that while KP remains on the frontline of terrorism, Gandapur prioritized Afghan policy discussions over security issues, stating, “He held a press conference advocating against the expulsion of Afghan refugees instead of addressing the security crisis.”
She also linked recent terrorist incidents, including the Jaffar Express attack and the Bannu assault, to elements operating from Afghanistan. “Gandapur appears more concerned about Afghan refugees than the safety of people in KP,” she concluded.
