Pakistan cracks down on netizens amid rare anti-army discourse

Roundup comes as doubt surfaces over army's 'neutrality' in Imran Khan's ouster

20220502 Pakistan PTI supporters in Lahore

Supporters of the party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan chant slogans ahead of a speech by the ousted leader in Lahore, Pakistan, on April 21. © Reuters

MIFRAH HAQ, Contributing writer

KARACHI -- Pakistan's premier investigative agency under the new government of Prime Minister Shabaz Sharif is detaining people accused of spreading provocative online content against the country's powerful army in what the government says is an attack coordinated by its predecessor.

Several hashtags have gone viral on Twitter denouncing Pakistan Army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa for his perceived role in the run-up to the parliamentary vote of no-confidence on April 10 that ousted Imran Khan as prime minister. Many believe that the ostensibly neutral general orchestrated Khan's removal behind the scenes.

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