Pakistan: Senate resolution recommends severe punishment for anti-army propaganda

The Senate of Pakistan unanimously decided on Monday to recommend harsh punishment for anyone found to have been involved in spreading “negative and malicious propaganda” against the nation’s security services, including the military forces. The resolution, proposed by Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi, recognised the need for a potent military and additional security forces to safeguard the nation, particularly given the adversarial surrounding environment. The “negative and malicious propaganda against the armed forces and other security agencies on various social media platforms” was a source of great worry, according to the resolution. A “strong army and other security agencies are indispensable for the defence of the country, especially because of the hostile neighbourhood,” it acknowledged, highlighting the “huge sacrifices of armed forces and other security agencies in the war against terror and for the defence and protection of the country’s borders.” The resolution also stated that the Senate consequently advises the government to take the appropriate actions to punish severely and legally anyone discovered to be involved in spreading false information against Pakistan’s security agencies and military forces. The resolution also suggested that anyone convicted of such a crime be barred from holding any public position for ten years, according to Radio Pakistan. A ten-year ban on holding public office for anyone “found involved in negative and malicious propaganda against the armed forces and other security agencies of Pakistan” was originally demanded in the resolution. But Tangi claimed he had changed the resolution to take out the call for a ten-year disqualification and to take legal action. (With agency inputs)