The government has decided to start investigations against the social media influencers recruited during the tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.

According to official sources, as many as 1,100 accounts have been sent to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for investigation of being used against the state and state institutions.

The social media influencers were recruited by the PTI government under the Annual Development Scheme for publicising the government’s initiatives, the informed sources said.

Rs242.6 million had been spent on the social media influencers in terms of salaries. The current caretaker government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has terminated the project, they added.

The social media influencers had been accused of spreading propaganda against the state and state institutions.

Reporter: Amir Shahzad