KARACHI: Participants of the 7th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Asia Regional Conference on Thursday emphasised the need for legislative action against fake news, climate change and online violence targeting women leaders.

The second day of the moot organised at the Sindh Assembly kicked off with a packed agenda featuring multiple sessions centred around artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfakes, which the panellists believed were influencing elections and public opinion.

At the session titled ‘Parliaments as Vanguards of Peaceful and Harmonious Societies: The Rise of Fake News, Artificial Intelligence and Misinformation’, the participants emphasised that parliaments must play their role in curbing fake news.

Deputy Speaker of the Maldives Nazim Ahmed, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Balochistan Assembly member Farah Azeem Shah, Punjab Assembly member Sarah Ahmed, MNA Barrister Daniyal, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly member Asif Khan participated in the discussion.

On second day of C’wealth parliamentary conference, participants call for legislative action to deal with online violence

The Maldives deputy speaker said that AI and deepfakes had influenced elections and public opinion. He emphasised that technology is a tool, not a threat, and that preventing its misuse is the responsibility of parliaments.

Senior Minister Memon said that AI and deepfake-generated forged content impacted public opinion and society and added that the government and federal institutions, including the FIA, were ensuring monitoring and timely responses.

He stressed that journalists should publish only verified news and that public awareness is equally important.

MNA and Federal Parliamentary Secretary Daniyal Chaudhry stated that AI and deepfakes were affecting information integrity and public trust globally.

“Under the PECA [Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act], monitoring and awareness are being promoted, while ministries, in collaboration with international partners, are developing automated software to identify fake videos and safeguard democracy,” he added.

Chairperson of the Punjab Child Rights Authority, Sarah Ahmed, said that existing laws were insufficient to protect children from harms caused through AI and online platforms.

She warned that online games, social media and AI were increasing the risks of sexual exploitation and misuse of information, calling for stronger legal protections through legislative amendments.

Balochistan Assembly member Farah Azeem said that rumours, fake news, and deepfakes undermine public trust. She emphasised that the solution lies not in fear or censorship but in transparent, verified and timely information.

KP Assembly member Asif Khan stated that education and awareness were the most effective tools against misinformation and deepfakes.

Water is not an infinite source, says Sherry

Chairing the session on ‘Legislating for Survival: Climate Resilience and Vulnerable Voices’, Senator Sherry Rehman stressed that Asia and Pakistan’s climate emergencies are converging with water scarcity, debt crisis, gender inequality and urban vulnerability, creating a compound crisis that demands bold reform and political foresight.

Other participants included MNA Tamkeen Akhtar Niazi, Punjab MPA Syed Zulfiqar Shah, Sindh MPA Qasim Siraj Soomro and others.

Senator Rehman underscored that water scarcity, contamination, and mismanagement are accelerating faster than institutional capacity. Responding to a suggestion from a Punjab MPA, she warned that neither desalination nor high-tech solutions offer realistic pathways for a low-fiscal-space country with public debt at 80 trillion. “Desalination works for Saudi Arabia and Singapore, but it is capital-intensive and not a silver bullet for Pakistan,” she said, urging sustainable, low-cost, long-term solutions focused on conservation, detoxification, and behavioural change.

She stressed that the Indus River cannot replenish Pakistan indefinitely. “Water is not an infinite resource. Like most of nature’s resources — trees, water, air — nothing is infinite.”

Senator Rehman also spoke about the gendered dimension of climate stress, noting that women and girls remain disproportionately burdened by Pakistan’s water emergency. She cited that 72 per cent of the country’s water carriers are women and girls. “They are the backbone of our subsistence economy, yet rarely the beneficiaries of its gains.”

She concluded by reminding the region’s parliamentarians that climate resilience is inseparable from social justice, debt reform, gender equity, and political will.

“Use this convening as a call to action,” she urged. “Legislate for survival. Guard your water. Regrow your trees. Reduce your plastics. Invest in your women. And demand a global climate financing system that does not punish the vulnerable.”

Earlier, MNA Tamkeen Niazi said that climate change was impacting daily life, with water scarcity emerging as a major concern. She emphasised the need for effective laws and modern technology to ensure water conservation and sustainability, specifically mentioning desalination as a necessary step.

‘Online violence, digital harassment’

Another session, which focused on online violence, digital harassment, and misinformation targeting women leaders, was moderated by Sindh Assembly members Sumeta Afzal Syed and Nida Khuhro, with contributions from Professor Jane Roscoe (UK), Punjab Assembly member Asma Iftikhar-ul-Haq, Sindh Assembly member Dr Fouzia Hameed, MNA Shazia Marri and Farooq H. Naek.

Ms Syed highlighted the need to protect women leaders from online violence, digital harassment, and misinformation.

Prof Roscoe stated that women leaders face online violence and harassment, stressing the need for cultural change, awareness, training, and collective support from male members, alongside legislative and policy reforms.

Ms Haq said that online violence, harassment, deepfakes, and false allegations against women leaders were often gender-based.

MNA Marri stated that effective legislative responses to the digital world were now unavoidable. “During the 2024 general elections, women were targeted in 84 cases,” she said.

Mr Naek said that while technology can amplify women leaders’ voices, create leadership opportunities and improve transparency and service delivery, it can also be misused for misinformation, organised falsehoods and digital harassment.

At the conclusion of the session, Sindh Assembly Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah and Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar presented shields to women leaders and experts.parliamentarians that climate resilience is inseparable from social justice, debt reform, gender equity, and political will.

“Use this convening as a call to action,” she urged. “Legislate for survival. Guard your water. Regrow your trees. Reduce your plastics. Invest in your women. And demand a global climate financing system that does not punish the vulnerable.”

Earlier, MNA Tamkeen Niazi said that climate change was impacting daily life, with water scarcity emerging as a major concern. She emphasised the need for effective laws and modern technology to ensure water conservation and sustainability, specifically mentioning desalination as a necessary step.

‘Online violence, digital harassment’

Another session, which focused on online violence, digital harassment, and misinformation targeting women leaders, was moderated by Sindh Assembly members Sumeta Afzal Syed and Nida Khuhro, with contributions from Professor Jane Roscoe (UK), Punjab Assembly member Asma Iftikhar-ul-Haq, Sindh Assembly member Dr Fouzia Hameed, MNA Shazia Marri and Farooq H. Naek.

Ms Syed highlighted the need to protect women leaders from online violence, digital harassment, and misinformation.

Prof Roscoe stated that women leaders face online violence and harassment, stressing the need for cultural change, awareness, training, and collective support from male members, alongside legislative and policy reforms.

Ms Haq said that online violence, harassment, deepfakes, and false allegations against women leaders were often gender-based.

MNA Marri stated that effective legislative responses to the digital world were now unavoidable. “During the 2024 general elections, women were targeted in 84 cases,” she said.

Mr Naek said that while technology can amplify women leaders’ voices, create leadership opportunities and improve transparency and service delivery, it can also be misused for misinformation, organised falsehoods and digital harassment.

At the conclusion of the session, Sindh Assembly Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah and Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar presented shields to women leaders and experts.

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2026