News
January 24, 2025
Opposition, Media Announce Nationwide Protests on PECA Amendments
Islamabad: After the passage of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, in the National Assembly, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the journalist fraternity pulled up socks for a nationwide protest movement.
The bill was approved within minutes after Federal Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain presented it in the lower house as the opposition parties had already staged a walkout. Journalists also walked out of the press gallery following the passage of the bill.
The draft titled "Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025" included new definitions, the establishment of regulatory and investigative bodies, and stricter penalties for disseminating "false" information.
The government aims to lower the punishment for spreading “fake information” online to three years, according to a draft of the document, while violators may also face a fine of up to Rs 2 million.
The newly amended bill also proposed the establishment of the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA), the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), and the Social Media Protection Tribunal.
Opposition lawmakers termed the amendments "black law" and criticized the government's move to "suppress the freedom of expression" in the country.
The Imran Khan-founded party announced launching nationwide resistance against the modified media laws.
Omar Ayub, PTI senior leader and the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, censured the federal government for passing the amended law.
He said that the passage of the Peca amendments exhibited the incumbent government's negative approach and announced that a protest would be held in the parliament.
"We reject the Peca, which is a black law […], freedom of expression is being suppressed via enforcing these regulations," said PTI leader and former NA speaker Asad Qaiser.
He added his party will begin a struggle against the "unconstitutional step" through the platform of the opposition alliance.
PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram announced that his party would organize nationwide protests against the act and also participate in demonstrations held by journalists.
Commenting on the amendments, Akram claimed that the rulers were "only afraid of the PTI social media cell" and "wanted to bring social media under their control at any cost".
The government's surprise move has not only drawn criticism from the opposition but also earned the journalist fraternity's ire.
JAC's protest, legal battle plans
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) has outrightly rejected the controversial amendment bill to the PECA Act, announcing its decision to approach the court against the bill and launch a protest movement.
The JAC is a joint body representing the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND), and Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA).
A special meeting of the journalist organizations held today claimed that the federal government had breached its promise by getting the controversial bill passed in the National Assembly without consultation.
"The focus of this bill is not just social media, but also electronic and print media's digital platforms, with the aim of criminalizing dissenting opinions," the statement read.
"However, if the government still wishes to consult stakeholders, the approval of this controversial bill in the Senate should be postponed," it added.
The JAC announced that it would begin its protest plan if the government failed to consult stakeholders before the approval of the contentious legislation.
Unveiling its protest plan, the committee said: "In case the bill is presented in the Senate, there will be protests not only during the session but also a nationwide call for demonstrations. A large protest rally will be held in Islamabad, in which all journalist organizations will participate."
"Lawyers, human rights organizations, civil society, and political parties will also be invited to join the protests.
Subsequently, the media bodies also decided to challenge the Peca Act amendment bill in court after its final approval, and consultations with lawyers have already begun.
It reiterated that while the journalist organizations are not against any law, they cannot accept legislation made without consultation. - The News
Courtesy The News
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