FIA to investigate social media influencers’ accounts for being anti-state

Peshawar: Information Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) sent a letter to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate the accounts of social media influencers recruited during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) era to use against the state.

The letter written to FIA said that most of the 1,109 social media influencers were recruited during the PTI era to campaign against the state and state institutions from personal accounts.

In a letter sent by the Department of Information to the Joint Director of FIA, it has been asked that the personal accounts of social media influencers recruited from public exchequer have been used against the state and state institutions. Investigations should be carried out against these influencers.

According to the text of the letter, 1109 social media influencers were recruited under the Annual Development Program Scheme to publicize the government initiatives.

The documents further said that influencers have received a total of Rs242.665 million as salaries and other perks.

Human resources expenses have been calculated over Rs220.16 million. The equipment was purchased for Rs26.26 million.

According to the documents, Rs10.158 million have been spent on the purchase of vehicles. Whereas Rs4.6 million were spent for operational expenses. The renovation was as expensive as Rs5,27,000. Rs1.66 million were consumed for training, while Rs1.32 million have been paid as tax.