News Desk:Â The Balochistan Assembly on Thursday strongly rejected what it described as a coordinated smear campaign on social media, declaring the spread of negative propaganda against elected representatives unacceptable.
During the session, it was discussed that alleged corruption-related stories involving provincial ministers and members of the provincial assembly (MPAs) have recently gone viral on social media, prompting serious concern within the House. Lawmakers termed these circulating claims part of an organised attempt to malign elected representatives without due process.
The issue was raised by Leader of the Opposition Younas Zahri, who alleged that the ongoing campaign was deliberately aimed at character assassination of assembly members. He said that accountability should be encouraged, but unverified and sensational allegations were being used to damage reputations. Members from across party lines endorsed this view, calling the viral content misleading and baseless.
Speaker of the Balochistan Assembly Abdul Khaliq Achakzai issued a firm ruling, stating that the Assembly would neither succumb to blackmail nor remain silent in the face of character attacks. He directed that the Cyber Crime Department be summoned and instructed the authorities to initiate legal action against those involved in running defamatory campaigns on social media.
Several members stressed that while the Assembly fully supports transparency and accountability, the circulation of alleged corruption stories without evidence cannot be justified. They demanded comprehensive investigations into fake, anonymous, and misleading social media accounts allegedly being used to spread defamatory and anti-state narratives.
Reiterating a zero-tolerance policy on corruption, the Speaker emphasized that allegations must be backed by proof and pursued through lawful forums. He informed the House that initial action by cyber crime authorities had already begun, with cases being registered under relevant legal provisions, including Sections 20 and 26-A.
The Assembly unanimously condemned the smear campaign and agreed that the response would not be limited to statements alone, stressing the need for effective and decisive action against those responsible for spreading unverified and defamatory content.
