Pakistan Criminalizes Online Disinformation with Harsh Penalties

New law imposes up to three years in prison and significant fines, sparking concerns over press freedom and political suppression.

The Pakistani Senate approved a bill criminalizing the intentional spread of online disinformation, following its passage in the National Assembly last week.
The law includes penalties of up to three years in prison and fines reaching 2 million rupees ($7,121), alongside provisions to block 'unlawful' social media content.
Journalists and opposition politicians have criticized the law as undemocratic, accusing the government of using it to stifle dissent and suppress freedom of speech.
The legislation establishes a regulatory agency with powers to enforce content bans and grants intelligence agencies authority to investigate disinformation cases.
Critics argue the law is part of a broader trend of media censorship in Pakistan, where press freedom has been declining and digital rights activists warn of increasing control over public narratives.