Pak Govt links Imran Khan’s party with Karan Thapar to bolster anti-Khan agenda

The India-Pakistan feud is often fanned by political parties for their own gain, with rival parties and leaders accused of having connections that fit each other's narratives to prove anti-national agendas. The recent allegation by the Pakistani government, accusing Imran Khan's party of having a link with an Indian journalist and describing it as an anti-national nexus, is an example of this.

The Pakistani government has recently claimed to have acquired "concrete evidence" establishing a connection between Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) spokesperson Raoof Hasan and India.

The allegations centre on purported WhatsApp exchanges between Hasan and Indian journalist Karan Thapar, which the government alleges prove Hasan's involvement in an anti-Pakistan campaign. The claims have been dismissed by Thapar, who has described them as unfounded and irrational, The Wire reported.

The accusations arise in the wake of Hasan's arrest on 22 July, following a period of intensified scrutiny on PTI members. The Pakistani authorities have accused PTI of engaging in anti-state propaganda, a charge that has been consistently denied by the party. Hasan’s arrest is the latest in a series of detentions and legal actions against senior PTI figures since former Prime Minister Imran Khan was ousted from power last year.

According to reports in the Pakistani media, selected screenshots of WhatsApp conversations between Hasan and Thapar were leaked to the press and widely circulated on social media, particularly by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N), led by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

The leaked messages, some of which date back to November 2022, allegedly show Hasan discussing sensitive matters related to Pakistan’s military and criticising the country's stance on international issues, including the Ukraine war.

The Pakistani government’s narrative suggests that Hasan, acting as PTI’s media coordinator, initiated contact with Thapar in November 2022. The leaked exchanges reportedly include discussions about potential interviews with senior Pakistani politicians, as well as Hasan's disparaging remarks about a Pakistani journalist and sensitive information regarding the then-newly appointed Army Chief, General Asim Munir.

The government has portrayed these exchanges as evidence of a concerted effort to undermine Pakistan’s military and state institutions, allegedly orchestrated with the assistance of foreign lobbies.

In addition to the WhatsApp messages, the Pakistani Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has published an article claiming that these communications are part of a broader anti-state agenda purportedly supported by Indian interests.

The ministry's publication and subsequent statements by government officials have sought to paint Thapar as a proxy for the Indian establishment, with the intent of bolstering their claims against Hasan and the PTI.

The government's narrative has been met with scepticism in some quarters, with critics questioning the validity of the accusations and the selective nature of the leaks. Observers have noted that the claims against Thapar appear to be part of a broader strategy to discredit the PTI by linking it to foreign actors, a tactic that has been employed in previous political controversies.

Thapar, a veteran journalist with a career spanning over four decades, has been known for his incisive interviews and critical stance on government policies, both in India and abroad. Despite the Pakistani government’s portrayal of him as anti-Pakistan, Thapar has been criticised in India for his perceived pro-Pakistan stance, particularly by supporters of the ruling BJP.

His interviews and columns have often sparked debate and controversy, but he has maintained that his work is grounded in journalistic principles rather than any political agenda.

The situation has further strained relations between the Pakistani government and PTI, which has been in disarray since Imran Khan’s removal from office. Khan himself has been in jail for over a year, and many of his senior aides have been arrested or have resigned from the party.

The arrest of retired General Faiz Hameed, a former head of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency and a close ally of Khan, on charges unrelated to the current allegations, has added to the sense of a broad crackdown on PTI and its affiliates.