LAHORE:
Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday announced a wide-ranging campaign against fake news, warning that misinformation on social media had reached a point where “90 per cent of online news is fake” and would now face coordinated action by the state.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Naqvi said the Information Ministry and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) would initiate action “on a massive scale”, adding that the state would no longer allow individuals to “declare a living person dead, a dead person alive or make any accusation they want without evidence”.
He emphasized that while he believed in freedom of expression and the right to criticize, these freedoms did not extend to the manufacture or circulation of false content. “If you have evidence, report a story. But you can’t fabricate content on social media and hide behind freedom of speech,” he said.
Naqvi said traditional journalists were part of a responsible editorial system and reporting structure, unlike those who “spread fake news” online. He added that PEMRA had already acted on incorrect reports in mainstream media, but social media lacked an accountability mechanism, prompting government action. He also suggested that a regulatory body for online content is “already being established.”
The minister warned people abroad who he said were involved in disinformation campaigns targeting state institutions. “Those who are sitting there, you too will return soon. If you think you will get protection here, that is not possible. You will respond,” he said.
He added that political campaigns being run from India would expose “how far some people are willing to go,” and stressed that the country’s integrity was a red line.
Afghan repatriation campaign
Naqvi said the repatriation of illegal Afghan migrants was progressing in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan, but was being obstructed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He alleged that Afghan camps not notified by the federal government were still being operated in KP. “Our message to the KP government is simple: prioritize your country over politics. National security is not an area where a province can run its own policy,” he said.
He warned that any Afghan returning to Pakistan after repatriation would be arrested and said the federal government was considering multiple options, including legal action, to ensure compliance with KP.
Naqvi also addressed reports of passengers being offloaded at airports, saying that only 50 to 70 people were detained daily due to incomplete documentation. He ordered the FIA to publish the data to counter “disinformation campaigns run by mafia agents.” “If we want to improve the classification of our passport, it is essential to act against travelers without the appropriate documents,” he added.
CDF quote
Commenting on speculations surrounding the delay in notifying the appointment of the Chief of Defense Forces (CDF), Naqvi said new constitutional systems cannot be created “by pressing a button”.
“The Constitution has been modified and a new institution is being created. A system takes time,” he said.
The CDF position was created by the 27th Constitutional Amendment, replacing the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Field Marshal Asim Munir, who is currently serving as COAS, will take over the charge.
The government will determine the division of responsibilities between the COAS and the CDF, including multi-domain integration, restructuring and merging of the armed forces. As per the amended law, the tenure of the COAS will restart for five years once the notification is issued.
“We will not allow fake news to create panic disguised as journalism,” Naqvi said, adding that national security and public trust cannot be compromised.
