MM News

The top brass of Pakistan’s military urged on Thursday the government to implement ‘stricter’ laws to curb misuse of freedom of expression as they expressed concerns over the ‘malicious propaganda’ done in the aftermath of the army’s deployment in Islamabad.

“Forum emphasized that it is imperative that Government should promulgate and implement stringent laws and regulations to check unfettered and unethical use of freedom of expression to spew venom, lies and sow the seeds of polarisation,” the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement at the conclusion of the 83rd Formation Commanders Conference held at GHQ in Rawalpindi.

Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir presided over the bi-annual meeting, which was attended by corps commanders, principal staff officers and all formation commanders of the army.

Earlier this month, reports said that the government was about to bring amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act to combat fake news and misinformation.

Such a development came after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Islamabad march which ended in the wee hours of November 27. International media and many ministers busted false claims related to the protest where AI generated visual content and Gaza pictures were used.

“Those spreading fake news for vested political/financial interests need to be identified and brought to justice,” the military’s media wing said.

The forum resolved that the “army remains committed to serving the nation and public and guard against all external and internal threats without any bias and political affiliation, and any attempt to pitch innocent people against each other and use of violence as an instrument for vested gains can never be tolerated.”

According to the ISPR, the forum began by offering prayers and paying tribute to the martyrs of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies, and citizens of Pakistan who