Bilawal Pledges Law to Combat Disinformation

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Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari vows to introduce legislation targeting disinformation, emphasizing the need to protect Pakistan’s democracy and national security.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at curbing disinformation, citing its threat to Pakistan’s democratic institutions and national security. Speaking at a press conference in Karachi on August 2, 2025, Bilawal emphasized the urgent need to address false information that undermines public trust and fuels instability.

The proposed law, as outlined by Bilawal, would establish mechanisms to detect and counter disinformation campaigns, particularly those targeting Pakistan’s nuclear and missile programs. According to Dawn, he accused foreign entities of spreading false narratives to weaken the country’s strategic interests, referencing recent U.S. sanctions on firms linked to Pakistan’s missile program. Bilawal stressed that the Pakistan Peoples Party would work through the National Assembly to ensure the legislation balances national security with freedom of expression, drawing on his 2022 call at the United Nations for an international plan to combat disinformation through public awareness and institutional capacity-building.

Security analyst Ayesha Siddiqa, cited by The Express Tribune, noted that disinformation poses a growing challenge in Pakistan, where social media amplifies divisive narratives. She cautioned that any law must avoid restricting legitimate speech, a concern echoed by Bilawal’s past statements at the Karachi Press Club, where he denounced censorship as akin to dictatorship. The proposed legislation would likely involve the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), requiring digital platforms to report harmful content and imposing fines for non-compliance, per a PPP spokesperson quoted by Geo News.

Bilawal’s announcement comes amid heightened regional tensions and domestic political challenges. He urged consensus-based governance, criticizing unilateral decisions by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), according to The Express Tribune. The PPP aims to collaborate with other parties to ensure the law strengthens democratic processes without stifling debate. The initiative reflects Pakistan’s broader efforts to address misinformation while navigating complex internal and external pressures.