Latest news with #Amendment)Act2025
Express Tribune
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
IFJ calls on SC to review new PECA law amendments
Listen to article The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called on the Supreme Court of Pakistan to urgently review the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), citing what it says are escalating threats to press freedom and the safety of journalists in the country. In a letter addressed to Chief Justice — and also sent to the prime minister, the chief justice of the Islamabad High Court, and the president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) — the IFJ said that media professionals in Pakistan are facing mounting dangers while performing their professional duties. Earlier this year, the National Assembly passed a set of amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) under a supplementary agenda, significantly expanding the government's authority to regulate online content and penalise digital offences. PECA (Amendment) Act 2025 included provisions for the formation of a Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA), which will be empowered to remove online content, restrict access to prohibited material, and impose penalties on individuals who share such content. The amendments also broadened the definition of 'social media platforms' to encompass tools and software used to access these platforms. The revised law now extends its jurisdiction to include websites, applications and various communication channels. As part of the legislative changes, the FIA Cybercrime Wing is to be disbanded and replaced with a stricter framework of enforcement. Under the new rules, individuals sharing expunged material from parliamentary or provincial assemblies on social media could face imprisonment of up to three years along with a fine of Rs2 million. Read: Provinces made party to case against PECA amendments 'Journalists are being subjected to legal cases, harassment, and threats under the PECA law,' the federation stated, adding that Pakistan's government is a signatory to international conventions such as those of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations, which obligate it to protect fundamental rights. The IFJ noted that recent amendments to PECA have granted the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) powers to act without a formal complaint — a move it warns could be used to silence dissent and target journalists arbitrarily. 'These powers pose a serious risk of suppressing independent journalism and freedom of expression,' the letter said, urging the top court to direct the government to amend the law in consultation with PFUJ and other relevant stakeholders. The federation also expressed concern over the bypassing of high courts through direct appeals to the SC, calling it a 'circumvention of judicial process.' In its letter, the IFJ reported that at least seven journalists have been killed in Pakistan over the past year, with no perpetrators convicted in cases involving attacks or threats. The latest Press Freedom Report, it said, documented 34 violations, including physical assaults, harassment, online hate campaigns, and intimidation. Read more: Back to the cave: Where does PECA take us? Media workers, the IFJ said, also face systemic challenges such as non-payment of wages, unlawful dismissals, and significant security risks. Furthermore, legal barriers to unionization have been reinforced by recent state legislation, undermining workers' rights. 'Media professionals are being deprived of the right to unionize, and they do not have equal access to justice in the courts,' the letter read. The IFJ revealed it has dispatched two fact-finding missions to Pakistan, where representatives met with journalists, media owners, PFUJ leadership, and human rights advocates. The federation said it supports PFUJ's ongoing legal efforts, including a petition filed in the Islamabad High Court, which is still awaiting a final decision. Underlining the urgency of the situation, the IFJ appealed to the Chief Justice to immediately initiate a comprehensive judicial review of PECA, especially the amendments that grant sweeping powers to the FIA. 'Immediate action must be taken to protect press freedom under Article 19 of the Constitution,' the federation concluded.
The Hindu
12-07-2025
- The Hindu
Protection order issued for a woman invoking newly amended TN Prohibition of Harassment of Women (Amendment) Act
For the first time in the city, a protection order under the recently amended Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women (Amendment) Act 2025, which bars an accused from establishing contact with the victim, was issued in a case booked at Maduravoyal Station. Police claimed that it was the first protection order issued in the city police limits. Police said Zahir Hussain, 32, from Tiruvannamalai was arrested by Maduravoyal Police for blackmailing and harassing a 27-year-old woman on June 24. Investigation revealed that the woman and Zahir, became acquainted with each other when they were working together for two years. After learning that her family were looking for alliance and she distanced herself from him, he followed her and threatened to stop her marriage by uploading pictures of her with him on social media. She lodged the complaint with the police and he was arrested on charges under provisions of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women (Amendment) Act 2025 and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Based on directions from the City Police Commissioner Maduravoyal police requested the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) Central Chennai to issue a protection order in favour of the victim, and obtained the order on Friday. Recently in January 2025 , the Tamil Nadu Government had amended the old Tamil Nadu's Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act 1998 to make the law more effective and robust in tune with the present times. Accordingly, a provision was made in Tamil Nadu, which envisaged the issuance of a Protection Order in favour of a woman wherein the accused would be prohibited from attempting to communicate with her in any form including electronic and the breach of the same had been made as recognizable crime, said a senior police officer.
New Straits Times
02-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Human Resources Ministry strengthens workers' welfare through legislation
KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Resources Ministry is committed to championing the welfare of workers through major legislative drive implemented over the past years. Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad said the ministry has steered the passage of eight major labour-related laws, a clear indication of the government's focus on strengthening worker protections. "These legal reforms significantly improve the rights of workers across the country, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, by aligning protections with those in Peninsular Malaysia," he said at the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) Workers Day celebration here. Present were Public Service director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz, Cuepacs president Datuk Dr Adnan Mat and Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay. It was reported that the Sabah Labour Ordinance (Amendment) Act 2025 came into force yesterday, following its gazettement by the federal government on April 23. Passed in the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 14, 2024, the amendment is the first update to the ordinance since 2005 and introduces a series of reforms to strengthen worker protections in Sabah. Key changes include a reduction in weekly working hours from 48 to 45, improved provisions on flexible work arrangements, forced labour, and harassment complaints, as well as an extension of maternity leave from 60 to 98 days. The amended act also introduces seven days of paternity leave, aligning Sabah's labour laws more closely with those in Peninsular Malaysia. Rahman said that the increase in development grants under the Trade Union Affairs Department from RM5.8 million to RM10 million this year is a boost to union capacity nationwide. "The boost in development grants is expected to benefit 551 unions and allows us to expand or enhance the assistance provided. Previously, we gave out between RM20,000 and RM50,000 depending on the size of the union. We encourage unions to use the funds effectively as such assistance is provided on an annual basis. "To support this initiative, ministry officials will begin visiting all states — starting with Sabah on May 12 — to distribute the funds and strengthen engagement with workers and unions on the ground."
New Indian Express
25-04-2025
- New Indian Express
Protection order under amended TNPHW Act invoked in Mettupalayam
COIMBATORE: A protection order under the recently amended Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women (Amendment) Act 2025, which bars an accused from establishing contact with the victim, has been invoked in a case booked at Mettupalayam police limit in the district. Police claimed that it was the first protection order issued in the western region of Tamil Nadu. Police said M Abdul Rasak (48) from Mettupalayam was arrested by police for allegedly stalking and harassing a 19-year-old woman on March 23 this year. Investigation revealed that he was facing similar charges in another case registered at Mettupalayam railway police station, police added. Meanwhile, based on directions from the district police superintendent K Karthikeyan, Mettupalayam police requested Coimbatore North RDO (Executive Magistrate) to invoke the provision and obtained the order on Wednesday. Police said that issuance of the order can be termed as a bail bond for the accused and a protection order for the victim. "Section 7C of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women (TNPHW) Act introduces a protection order to prevent the accused from contacting the victim in any manner, including contact through an intermediary. A violation of this order is a cognisable and non-bailable offence, punishable by up to three years imprisonment and a fine up to Rs 1 lakh," a senior police officer said.
