The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to take strict action against individuals involved in spreading “fake news.“
According to sources, the government plans to present this proposal in Parliament during the second week of December as part of an amendment to the PECA 2016 Amendment Bill.
Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar, speaking exclusively to Azaad English, confirmed that the bill will be tabled in Parliament and subsequently discussed with relevant stakeholders.
The PPP Senator Shahadat Awan told Azaad that every citizen of the country is responsible if he or she shares fake news on any social media platform. The senator cleared that no one is above the law if he is aware or unaware.
Barrister Kamran Murtaza, a senator from JUI-F, told Azaad English that while political figures often face harsh criticism on social media—sometimes involving vulgar language—this does not justify the introduction of a new law.
Barrister Ali Zafar, a senator from the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), acknowledged that combating fake news is a global concern and agreed that legislation is necessary. However, he warned that the government’s proposal introduces media censorship.
Zafar stressed the importance of public awareness campaigns to educate individuals about the consequences of spreading false information.
