AJK polling postponed in LA-27 after landslides

RAWALPINDI: The Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) held a special interactive session with participants of the ISPR Summer Internship 2026, discussing national security, terrorism, misinformation and the responsible use of social media. According to ISPR, the internship programme has attracted more than 6,000 students from across Pakistan, who are participating at 21 different stations nationwide. The initiative aims to provide young people with greater awareness of national institutions, security issues and the challenges facing the country. During the session, the DG ISPR responded to a wide range of questions from students, offering detailed explanations on issues related to Pakistan’s security environment, information warfare and the importance of verifying information before sharing it on digital platforms. A key focus of the discussion was the growing challenge of misinformation, disinformation and propaganda. Students were encouraged to critically evaluate online content and avoid circulating unverified news that could mislead the public or harm national interests. Participants said the session provided valuable guidance on identifying false narratives and understanding the impact of digital misinformation. They described the interaction as informative and said it helped clear up several misconceptions surrounding national security and current affairs. The briefing also covered the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where participants were given an overview of Pakistan’s official position and regional developments. Students said the discussion helped them better understand the ground realities and the broader context of issues affecting the region. According to participants, the DG ISPR also addressed questions regarding what the military described as hostile propaganda campaigns and security threats. Students noted that the detailed responses helped clarify several issues that had previously caused confusion or uncertainty. At the conclusion of the session, participants expressed their commitment to promoting accurate information and exercising greater responsibility while using social media platforms. They also pledged to play a constructive role in countering false information by relying on verified sources and encouraging informed public discourse. The ISPR Summer Internship has become one of the military’s flagship youth engagement initiatives, bringing together students from universities across the country for interaction with officials, educational activities and discussions on national issues. Officials said the programme is intended to strengthen awareness among young Pakistanis, encourage critical thinking and promote responsible digital citizenship at a time when misinformation and online propaganda continue to pose growing challenges worldwide.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership cannot distance itself from the recent shooting incident on Rawalpindi’s Mall Road. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Chaudhry said the incident was deeply regrettable and alleged that the man involved had links with the PTI and had remained in contact with the party’s leadership. According to the minister, the suspect had previously stayed at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House and had met members of the PTI leadership. He also allegedly carried the party’s flag and appeared in social media videos showing attacks on security forces. Chaudhry said a security personnel was injured when the attacker opened direct fire on Mall Road. He argued that the PTI leadership could not simply deny responsibility by claiming that the individual had no connection with the party or suffered from mental health problems. “If his mental condition was not stable, why did he attack a security official instead of his own family or a party leader?” Chaudhry asked. He questioned why the individual had allegedly been placed at the frontline of protests if the party had no association with him. The minister accused the PTI of promoting a political culture based on confrontation, violence and hatred. He said the government had repeatedly urged the party to avoid spreading hostility and unrest among young people. Chaudhry linked such politics to previous violent incidents, including the events of May 9 and November 26, and warned that continuing to promote hatred could lead to further incidents. He also criticised what he described as vandalism and arson carried out in the name of politics. He questioned what the PTI had achieved for the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during its long period in power in the province. “Setting things on fire and creating disorder is not politics,” he said, adding that such actions neither served the party nor the province. Referring to future political activities, Chaudhry warned that similar incidents could occur again if party workers continued to be exposed to what he described as hateful and inflammatory rhetoric. He also criticised PTI founder Imran Khan’s statements and speeches, alleging that they had contributed to political polarisation and unrest. Chaudhry further accused PTI supporters of disrespecting security personnel and national heroes, including through social media posts targeting the country’s fallen soldiers. The minister said investigations into the Rawalpindi incident were progressing and that authorities were conducting a transparent inquiry. He assured that the findings would be made public once the investigation was completed. Chaudhry said the government would not allow Pakistan to be pushed into further political instability and warned that those involved in attacks would face legal consequences.