ISLAMABAD – Pakistani journalist and analyst Benazir Shah’s deepfake video raised alarm bells about the rise of manipulated content on social media.
Fake Video
یہوتنی ہو اور نچن آلی نہ ہو یہ کبھی ہو نہیں سکتا۔
یہوتیوں کی ونیلا آئس کریم بینظیر شاہ کی لندن کے کلب میں ڈانس وڈیو لیک pic.twitter.com/gqfkNg6ZOO— PakVocals (@PakVocals) November 8, 2025
Shah has been thrust into the spotlight after a morphed clip of her circulated online, originating from an X account later shared by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.
Info Minister Tarar responded promptly, calling the video “totally unacceptable and highly condemnable” and promising action against the perpetrators. He stressed that no one has the right to harass or defame journalists and clarified that he does not condone the behaviour of the account responsible.
Shah welcomed minister’s condemnation and refused to file a case under PECA through the National Counter Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). She argued that doing so would lend credibility to institutions often used to silence dissent and intimidate journalists.
Instead, she called on the government to scrap PECA and NCCIA and engage in genuine consultations to craft laws that truly safeguard journalists.
The controversy revived criticism of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), enacted in 2016 to tackle cybercrime and online harassment. Critics argue it has repeatedly been misused to target journalists, activists, and political opponents, raising serious concerns about digital rights and freedom of expression in Pakistan.
