On February 17, during a Sindh Assembly session, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon advocated for creating a dedicated authority to address the dissemination of fake news. Memon, who oversees the portfolios of Information, Transport, and Mass Transit, emphasized the significant harm fake news inflicts on individuals and their families. He highlighted the necessity for this authority, which would have the power to take swift action against any channel or individual found spreading misinformation.
Memon proposed the formation of a parliamentary committee to investigate and recommend legislative measures to effectively manage and penalize fake news. He stressed that while the government supports freedom of expression, it stands firmly against the spread of false information. The senior minister remarked on the current defamation laws, noting their existence but also the lack of enforcement, as he could not recall any recent punishments under these laws.
Addressing the assembly, Memon suggested that a resolution concerning fake news should be introduced, leading to the establishment of the recommended parliamentary committee. This committee would be tasked with crafting detailed recommendations for both legislation and its implementation to curb the proliferation of fake news.
In response to a query from Dr Fouzia Hameed of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Memon acknowledged the absence of a direct financial support system for newspapers. However, he mentioned that the government monitors newspaper circulations and allocates advertisements to support them indirectly. He expressed a desire to empower the All-Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) to streamline the process of distributing government advertisements to newspapers, although he noted a lack of substantial response from APNS despite repeated communications.
The session, which began with the recitation of the Holy Quran and Naat Sharif, saw Memon affirm everyone’s right to protest but condemned actions that harm the public. He reiterated the provincial government’s commitment to distinguishing between the right to freedom of expression and the spread of misinformation.
