Tweet-For-Tat: Virk alleges Pirzada was paid by PTI govt

A fiery Twitter exchange between renowned Pakistani journalist, Dr. Moeed Pirzada, and influential social media activist, Farhan Virk, has sparked a new controversy, raising pressing questions about transparency in awarding government advsertisements based on political affiliations in Pakistan.

Virk posted a document, alleging that Pirzada’s publication, Global Village Space, pocketed vast sums from Pakistani tax funds during the PTI’s tenure in government. He insinuated a financial motive behind Pirzada’s shifting stance towards PTI, even hinting at a massive cheque from the Benazir Income Support Program, a government initiative aimed at serving the most underprivileged female population.

Virk says Pirzada’s response in which he did not deny receiving funds from the previous government is his “admission”

“Dr Moeed neither spared the Utility Stores nor the Benazir Income Support. While countless cheques are still pending from the Ministry of Information, he is making every effort to ensure PTI’s return to power in order for the cheques worth billions of rupees to be cleared,” Virk alleged.

Pirzada, without denying that the payments were made to his publication, said in his defense that “These (payments) were part of some Govt campaigns, given to all digital media then & were of little value & importance.” He dismissed Virk’s claims as mere propaganda and called him “A ChatGPT gentleman recently hired unwisely by powerful & intelligent people to work 24/7 to improve their image”. He emphasized his love for Pakistan over any political party and highlighted his critiques of Khan in various vlogs.

Denying his “love” for the jailed PTI chairman Pirzada says his love is only for Pakistan before going for a rant in the former PM’s favour saying he “for his enemies, has become a phenomenon bigger than all of them combined.”

Virk says his response in which he did not deny receiving funds from the previous government as his “admission”.

This might look like just another Twitter feud but given the history of both individual, it can be said that they both have access to information that is not available publicly.