LAHORE:
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced a sweeping crackdown on fake news on Monday, warning that misinformation on social media had reached a point where “90% of information online is false” and would now be the subject of coordinated action by the state.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Naqvi said the Ministry of Information and the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) would launch “large-scale” actions, adding that the state would no longer allow individuals to “declare a living person dead, a deceased person alive, or make any allegation of their choice without proof.”
He stressed that while he believed in freedom of speech and the right to criticize, these freedoms did not extend to the making or dissemination of false content. “If you have evidence, report a story. But you can’t fabricate content on social media and hide behind free speech,” he said.
Naqvi said mainstream journalists were part of an editorial system and responsible reporting structure, unlike those who “spread fake news” online. He added that PEMRA had previously responded to incorrect reporting in mainstream media, but social media lacked an accountability mechanism, prompting the government to take action. He also suggested that an online content regulator was “already in the making”.
The minister warned people abroad who he said were involved in disinformation campaigns targeting state institutions. “Those who are sitting there, you will also come back soon. If you think you will get protection here, it is not possible. You will have to answer for your actions,” he said.
He added that political campaigns run from India would reveal “how far some people are willing to go”, emphasizing that the country’s integrity was a red line.
Afghan repatriation campaign
Naqvi said repatriation of illegal Afghan migrants was progressing across Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan, but was hampered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He alleged that Afghan camps denotified 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 pursue 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 several options, including legal action, to ensure compliance with the KP.
Naqvi also addressed reports of passengers being disembarked at airports, saying only 50 to 70 people were detained daily due to incomplete documents. He ordered the FIA to release the data to counter “disinformation campaigns carried out by the mafia”. “If we want to improve our passport ranking, it is essential to take action against travelers without proper documents,” he added.
CDF appointment
Commenting on speculation around the delay in notifying the appointment of the Chief of Defense Force (CDF), Naqvi said new constitutional systems could not be created “at the push of a button”.
“The Constitution has been amended 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 currently holds the post of COAS, is expected to take over this role.
The government will determine the distribution of responsibilities between the COAS and the CDF, including multi-domain integration, restructuring and jointness of the armed forces. Under the amended law, the tenure of the COAS will resume for five years once the notification is issued.
“We will not allow fake news to create panic under the guise of journalism,” Naqvi said, adding that national security and public trust cannot be compromised.
