DISINFORMATION and fake news clinched electronic and social media, especially for propaganda to make public opinion in a particular direction for noble or malicious cause by sabotaging fundamental rights of others.
That is why, legal instruments of the United Nations such as Assembly resolutions 55/10 on 5 April 2024, 76/227 of 24 December 2021, on countering disinformation for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and Council resolutions 44/12 of 16 July 2020 and 50/15 of 8 July 2022, on freedom of opinion and expression, 47/16 of 13 July 2021, on the promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the Internet, and 49/21 of 1 April 2022, on the role of States in countering the negative impact of disinformation on the enjoyment and realization of human rights, and domestic laws of Pakistan term Disinformation and fake news as a crime.
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) being a part of propaganda of Blasphemy Protection Gang to create doubts through documentaries about commission of crimes of more than four hundred accused persons of pornographic blasphemous content by distorting facts which are contradictory to files of trial as well as findings of Federal Investigation Agency.
A program of BBC Urdu known as BBC Sairbeen uploaded a video on 23 July 2025 under the title “Blasphemy Business’: A New Tactic Targeting Youth Through Honey Traps? – BBC URDU”. The hostess in start discussed the Report of Special Branch Police regarding Blasphemy Business Gang that alleges for blasphemous entrapment of accused persons in pornographic blasphemy cases for extortion with nexus of Federal Investigation Agency. On the basis of this report, she projected and propagated her stance of blasphemous entrapment, extortion and registration of fake cases. However, Deputy Inspector General of Special Branch Police disowned the authenticity and correctness of contents of allegations of the same report in Writ Petition No. 4431 of 2025 (Sajid Iqbal Lashari VS. Federation of Pakistan etc.) in The Hon’ble Lahore High Court, Lahore. On 24.01.2025. Later on, FIA also termed all allegations of this report baseless after an inquiry.
On 03.40 minutes, the hostess discussed a specific case bearing FIR No. 63/2024. Crux regarding discussing fake facts of this case are as while talking to the mother of the accused person. “Her son (accused person) was trapped by a lady with whom a relationship was built through social media. The lady herself contacted him, then communication started through Messenger. Later on, WhatsApp chat started. The accused person was added in a social media group wherein informative content was being shared initially, however, he saw some controversial content and left the group. When the accused person left the group and disconnected with the alleged girl of honey trapping, the girl contacted him again and denied sharing controversial content in the group. The girl requested him to send the controversial messages in personal chat so she could see as she was not aware of sharing any controversial content in the group. The girl called the accused to meet at a restaurant. As the accused person reached the meet-up place, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested the accused person under Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act 2016 over the charges of blasphemy”.
Facts ignored and distorted by BBC are as this case is of public blasphemy, not of one time screenshot sharing as projected falsely. Samsung Galaxy A21s mobile was also recovered from the custody of the accused. Federal Investigation Agency conducted Initial Technical Report as well as Forensic Report of digital devices of this accused person and found 43 Pages of Initial Technical Report as well as 101 Pages of Forensic Report (blasphemous pornographic images). Federal Investigation Agency recovered three Facebook Groups from the accused person’s digital devices which are Dharmick Mazhbi Behnein, Mazhabi Randiya, and Darasgah. The file of trial court reveals that four Facebook accounts have been recovered from this accused person which are as Syed Faizan Shah, Faizi Shah, Parvati Devi, Meher Begum and Zakira Shagufta Dolfin Doll. The accused was not only sharer of pornographic blasphemous content but also creator.
—The writer is a Lahore-based public litigation Advocate of High Court & researcher on human rights and criminal justice system.
