On February 22, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) issued a strong condemnation of the federal government’s handling of a social media monitoring firewall project, which the party claims was a wasteful endeavor designed to target political opponents rather than safeguard national interests. According to PTI, this project was dismantled after criticism. The party is now demanding transparency over the expenditures and has called for legal action against those responsible for the project’s failure.
Sheikh Waqas Akram, PTI Information Secretary, specifically highlighted that the dismantling of the “ill-conceived and agenda-driven” firewall project just before the 5G spectrum auction confirmed its technical unfeasibility and financial toll on the national exchequer. He accused the government of prioritizing suppression of dissent over economic stability and digital growth, further alleging the project was driven by a motive to politically victimize opponents, dubbing it “Imran Phobia.”
Moreover, the PTI spokesman linked the failed firewall initiative to broader impacts, including a decline in foreign investor confidence, a hit to IT exports and freelancers, and damage to Pakistan’s global reputation. He underscored the additional economic pressures from a project he described as against national interests, especially at a time when the country is grappling with record unemployment and surging public debt.
