The cybercrime division of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered what is being reported as its first formal case filed against a suspect specifically for “spreading fake and fabricated news online”, under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), according to Pakistan’s SamaaTV. According to the FIA, the case was registered after an anonymous source reported discovering “fake news” and “anti-state” material on the accused’s X (formerly Twitter) account, allegedly connected to late November’s PTI protest march.

 

The “fake news” case has been registered amid government’s wider efforts to tackle “anti-state propaganda”. Last week, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif launched a joint task force to crackdown down on fake news. Furthermore, the Minister for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja recently underscored government plans to amend PECA to “address concerns regarding misinformation”.