Fake news major threat to individuals, families: Sharjeel Memon

Sindh Senior Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon has said that fake news is a major issue and that individuals and their families are being harmed by it

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Feb, 2026) Sindh Senior Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon has said that fake news is a major issue and that individuals and their families are being harmed by it.

He stated that anyone can file a complaint against fake news with the Cyber Crime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency, and that the federal government has also enacted the PECA Act.

Speaking in the Sindh Assembly during questions and answers session on Information Department, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that a defamation law also exists, but he does not recall anyone being punished under it.

He gave the example that when a channel is penalized in the UK, it issues an apology.

He said that a resolution on the issue of fake news should be introduced in the Sindh Assembly and that a parliamentary committee should be formed to prepare recommendations for legislation and implementation.

He emphasized that they are not against freedom of expression, but against fake news.

Memon said that the province should also have an authority empowered to take direct action if any channel or individual spreads false news.

He added that the parliamentary committee should examine the issue and propose solutions to all related problems.

He said that decisions regarding which newspapers receive government advertisements should be made independently and entrusted to APNS.

“We want to empower the APNS so that our work becomes easier and this can serve as the best system for newspaper advertising,” he said, adding that despite repeated written letters, no substantial response was received from APNS.

Sharjeel Memon said that everyone has the right to protest, but no one has the right to harm the public.

Earlier, the session started with recitation of the Holy Quran and Naat Sharif with Speaker Awais Qadir Shah in the chair.