Pakistan’s government has responded sternly to the unauthorized release of classified information on social media.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced on X (formerly Twitter) that action is being taken following the public exposure of sensitive documents marked as secret.
Minister Asif emphasized the grave implications of such breaches. He noted that spreading unauthorized information could severely jeopardize Pakistan’s relationships with allied nations and threaten its strategic and economic interests.
In response, the federal government has resolved to prosecute those involved in the leak under the Official Secrets Act. This includes individuals directly or indirectly engaged in the dissemination of classified data.
Minister Asif specified penalties of up to two years in prison and potential fines for these violations.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif endorsed amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 on May 9. These modifications aim to enhance the regulation of social media activities.
The amendments entail the establishment of the Digital Rights Protection Agency (DRPA) as part of the revised Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2024, aiming to enhance the regulation of digital content.
