Govt to take strict action against elements spreading disinformation about COVID-19

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Brigadier (retd) Ijaz Shah issued a strict warning Thursday to all elements spreading disinformation against COVID-19, saying that the government will take strict action against anyone found guilty of the offence. 

The interior minister directed concerned departments to closely monitor activities of such elements and bring them to book. "We will take strict action against the spread of disinformation regarding COVID-19,” said Shah, as he chaired a meeting on the COVID-19 Disinformation Prevention Mechanism committee at the Interior Ministry. 

The committee consists of nine members, with Dr Faisal Sultan holding the seat of Senior Member, while other members include representatives of Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Inter Services Public Relations, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and National Command and Operation Center.

Shah said that “strict and immediate action should be taken against these people" urging the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) Cybercrime wing to monitor and take appropriate action against the spread of disinformation on COVID-19. 

"The primary purpose of this committee is to ensure that correct and credible information goes to our people," he said, vowing to utilise all available resources in catching the culprits behind the spread of disinformation. 

The interior minister tasked DG PEMRA with ensuring that no fake news on the pandemic is aired on electronic media, saying that everyone had to play his/her part in battling COVID-19. He said that “we are doing our best by working day and night on the government level".