Newly uncovered evidence has revealed links between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Raoof Hasan and communications with Indian journalists, sparking concerns over an alleged anti-state agenda. These findings suggest that foreign and Indian lobbies may be actively backing PTI founder Imran Khan’s purported “anti-state activities.”
WhatsApp exchanges have surfaced, showing Raoof Hasan in contact first with American journalist Ryan Grim and later with Indian journalist Karan Thapar. On November 19, 2022, while serving as PTI’s Media Coordinator, Hasan reached out to Thapar, who expressed interest in interviewing PTI senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
On November 24, 2022, Thapar shared a YouTube interview with Hasan, featuring comments by Rana Banerji, a former official of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), regarding Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Asim Munir. Thapar characterized General Munir as a hardliner from India’s viewpoint. The following day, Thapar sent another interview about the army chief to Hasan, who responded by criticizing a Pakistani journalist involved and disclosed sensitive information about the army chief.
In February 2023, according to reliable sources, Hasan praised India’s stance on the Ukraine conflict in a WhatsApp message while strongly criticizing Pakistan’s position. He commented, “India’s neutrality is understandable,” and added, “Pakistan’s stance is disappointing. Despite abstaining from the UN vote, there are reports of Pakistan supplying weapons to Ukraine.”
In March 2023, Hasan sent inflammatory messages to Thapar, condemning the arrests at Imran Khan’s residence as state-sanctioned violence and warning that “Pakistan seems on the brink of a bloody revolution.”
Further evidence reveals that on May 10, 2023, Raoof Hasan recorded an interview with Karan Thapar via Zoom. The following day, Hasan exaggerated routine military movements in Pakistan, claiming, “Widespread military activity is being observed on Pakistan’s streets and alleys,” and provocatively stating, “We are living under an undeclared martial law.”
Defense experts have raised alarms over Hasan’s communications with Thapar, viewing them as potentially valuable intelligence for RAW operatives associated with Thapar. The PTI spokesperson is accused of passing sensitive information to an Indian journalist, contributing to anti-Pakistan propaganda efforts.
These WhatsApp exchanges suggest that Raoof Hasan encouraged Karan Thapar to amplify negative narratives about Pakistan’s military. Defense experts believe that the intention behind sharing such sensitive information was to fuel anti-state propaganda in Indian media.
