PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan’s alleged links with Indian journalist fuel anti-state concern

ISLAMABAD: Recent evidence has surfaced suggesting that Raoof Hasan, a spokesperson for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was involved in communications with Indian journalists that advanced an “anti-state agenda.”

The evidence indicates that foreign and Indian interests have supported PTI founder Imran Khan’s alleged anti-state efforts. Specifically, Hasan’s WhatsApp communications, first with American journalist Ryan Grim and later with Indian journalist Karan Thapar, have raised concerns.

Earlier, on November 19, 2022, Hasan, acting as PTI’s Media Coordinator, contacted Thapar to discuss a potential interview with PTI senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

On November 24, 2022, Thapar broadcasted an interview featuring Hasan and comments from Rana Banerji, former Secretary of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), about Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir.

Moreover, in this interview, Munir was characterized as a hardline figure from an Indian perspective. The next day, Thapar sent Hasan another interview about the army chief, to which Hasan responded by disparaging the Pakistani journalist involved and disclosing sensitive information about the army chief.

Further messages from February 2023 show Hasan praising India’s neutral stance on the Ukraine issue while criticizing Pakistan’s position. Hasan remarked, “India’s stance is understandable given its desire to remain neutral,” and criticized Pakistan for allegedly supplying weapons to Ukraine despite its abstention at the UN.

In March 2023, Hasan sent provocative messages to Thapar, describing the arrests at Imran Khan’s residence as state violence and suggesting that “Pakistan appears ready for a bloody revolution.”

On May 10, 2023, Hasan participated in a Zoom interview with Thapar. The next day, Hasan exaggerated routine military movements in Pakistan, claiming, “Complete military movement is being observed on Pakistan’s streets and alleys,” and suggesting the country was under undeclared martial law.

In addition, defense experts are alarmed by Hasan’s reckless communications, viewing them as valuable information for RAW operatives and potentially harmful to Pakistan.

They believe Hasan’s interactions with Thapar were aimed at promoting anti-Pakistan narratives and furthering negative propaganda against the country’s military.