Pakistani lawmakers urge action against state TV anchor for 'derogatory' remarks on Sindhi community

A Senate committee has called for criminal proceedings against a state-run television anchor who posted a vlog containing "derogatory" remarks against the Sindhi community, highlighting Pakistan’s deepening debate over hate speech and online accountability.

The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, chaired by Senator Ali Zafar, met Wednesday at the headquarters of state-run Pakistan Television in Islamabad. Officials from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) gave lawmakers detailed briefings on online offenses and harassment cases.

Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Waqar Mehdi raised the issue of anchor Rizwan Razi, who used what he described as hateful and derogatory language toward Sindhis, one of Pakistan’s largest ethnic groups concentrated in the southern province of Sindh.

The committee recommended registering a First Information Report, or FIR, under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), the country’s cyber crime law.

NCCIA officials told lawmakers that the agency had filed cases against 10 journalists, along with 611 cases of financial fraud and 320 cases of online harassment. They said illegally obtained SIM cards were being used in terrorist activities.

Former Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid said he had been targeted with threats and abuse after a speech in the Senate. “A series of abusive words started against me. I was harassed, threatened, no one asked me,” Rashid told the committee.

Another senator, Irfan Siddiqui, said nine members of the National Assembly — Pakistan’s lower house of parliament — had been defrauded by people falsely using his name. “Money is being demanded from members in my name. Nine members of the National Assembly have fallen for his trick,” Siddiqui said, adding that he had filed multiple complaints but received no resolution.

The committee sought a report from NCCIA on the case. Agency officials said PKR 1.3 million (about $4,700) had been recovered, four suspects were arrested, and efforts were under way to apprehend the main accused.

They also reported that in the past five months, authorities recovered PKR 10 million ($36,000) in hacking cases involving WhatsApp.

Lawmakers raised alarm that 372 cases had been registered in Pakistan’s provinces under PECA, despite amendments barring provincial authorities from filing such cases. NCCIA officials said that under the 2025 version of the law, provincial cases would be transferred to the agency.

“All these cases are illegal, what to do with them now,” Chairman Zafar asked. The committee later formed a subcommittee to examine the registration of illegal cases under PECA.

NCCIA officials said the federal cabinet had approved rules to establish a Social Media Regulatory Authority, and advertisements for hiring staff would soon be issued.

The session also included testimony from journalist Tayyab Baloch. Chairman Zafar asked him to submit his concerns in writing, saying the committee would need to hear all sides.