Latest news with #PreventionofElectronicCrimes
Express Tribune
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
IHC to resume PECA hearing on Sept 18
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has scheduled hearing on the petitions challenging the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes (PECA) Amendment Act 2025. Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas will take up the petitions on September 18. Earlier, Justice Minhas had held a hearing on July 7, during which the arguments had begun but the court did not set the next hearing date at that timewhich has now been announced. The petitions have been filed by the PFUJ, television anchors, and the Islamabad High Court Journalists Association. In the previous hearing, Dr Yasir Aman, the lawyer for PFUJ, presented arguments and is expected to continue them at the next hearing as well. The National Assembly on January 23 of this year amended the country's cybercrime law — PECA, 2016 — granting the government expanded powers to regulate and control social media platforms amid protest by journalists and right activists. Several groups and individuals later filed petitions against the amended law in different high courts of the country including the IHC.
Express Tribune
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
President signs PECA tweaks bill into law
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Brushing aside growing opposition, President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday gave his assent to the controversial amendments to the country's cybercrime laws, despite calls from journalists and media organisations to put the brakes on the bill. The move came a day after the Senate pushed through the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 amendments sparking nationwide protests from media workers who claimed the law was a gag order in disguise. A press release issued by the Presidency confirmed that Zardari signed the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025, along with the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill and the National Commission on the Status of Women (Amendment) Bill. The signing followed claims by the Parliamentary Reporters' Association (PRA) earlier on Wednesday that the president had accepted their request – conveyed through senior politician Maulana Fazlur Rehman – to delay the bill. "The president, at the request of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, has halted the bill for some time till PRA Pakistan sends its suggestions," the PRA had stated. However, as per the Constitution, the president can return a bill to parliament once, but if sent back to him a second time, his assent is deemed granted even if he does not sign it within ten days. According to the PRA, a delegation from the association met with Fazl, who then contacted President Zardari. Fazl expressed solidarity with the PRA's concerns about the bill's approval "without consultations." The JUI-F chief reportedly relayed the concerns of the PRA delegation and its president, Usman Khan, to the president. He strongly urged Zardari "not to immediately sign the PECA amendment bill," stressing that "journalists across the country have objected to certain sections of it" and calling for those concerns to be addressed. The PRA statement further claimed that Zardari assured Fazl of "full cooperation" and promised that consultations would be held between the PRA and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi regarding the bill. PECA challenged in LHC The PECA Amendment Act 2025 has been challenged in the Lahore High Court (LHC), with concerns raised over its impact on freedom of expression and press liberties. A writ petition challenged the PECA Amendment Bill 2025, requesting the court to declare several of its provisions unconstitutional for being inconsistent with various articles of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973. The petition was filed by Lahore Press Club member Jaffar Bin Yar through his counsel, Advocate Nadeem Sarwar. The plea names the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Ministry of Law, Cabinet Division and Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunication as respondents. The petition argues that the National Assembly fast-tracked the approval of the PECA amendment bill last week by suspending its own rules, bypassing necessary scrutiny. The petitioner contends that in the past, PECA has been used as a tool for silencing dissent, and that the new penalties will further erode the country's already limited freedoms. The petition also asserts that the amendments were introduced without consultation with relevant stakeholders, including media organisations, violating constitutional protections for freedom of speech and expression. Calling the PECA Amendment Act unconstitutional, the petitioner urged the court to strike it down and suspend all actions under the law until a final verdict is reached. The petitioner contended that the bill was introduced without any consultation or discussion with relevant stakeholders, including media and journalist organisations. He argued that the haste with which the bill was rushed through the lower house of parliament eroded public trust and raised serious concerns about the intent behind the amendments, particularly their impact on constitutionally guaranteed rights such as freedom of expression and press freedom. He maintained that the amendments were disproportionate, non-transparent, and detrimental to free speech. The imposition of imprisonment and fines, he argued, was excessive and appeared designed to silence dissenting voices and suppress critical journalism rather than combat disinformation. "The PECA amendments are a new tool of self-censorship," the petition stated. The petitioner further submitted that the bill was passed without consultation or debate and that the amendments expand the previously available powers of the PTA by creating the Social Media Regulation and Protection Authority. These provisions, he argued, grant authorities the power to block and remove content based on vague criteria, violating the right to freedom of expression and failing to meet international human rights standards of proportionality and necessity. The amendments also introduce a criminal offence for disseminating "false and fake information," carrying a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment and a fine. The petitioner highlighted concerns over the vague and ambiguous language used to define this offence, warning that it could be misused to stifle online expression, particularly given the history of PECA being used against dissenting voices. Bar to protest Meanwhile, the Lahore Bar Association has announced a general house meeting today to discuss opposition to the PECA ordinance and the 26th constitutional amendment. Following the meeting, lawyers will stage a protest march to Charing Cross in a show of defiance against the controversial legislation. Supreme Court Bar Secretary Salman Mansoor is expected to address the gathering, raising alarms about the legal consequences of the PECA amendment and its potential misuse against journalists and dissenting voices.
Express Tribune
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PECA bill gets Senate's nod amid protest
ISLAMABAD: Journalists on Tuesday erupted in protest across the country after the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led ruling coalition managed to bulldoze the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes (PECA) Amendment Bill, 2025 also through the upper house. The National Assembly has already passed the bill which, if enacted, can effectively muzzle the media. On Tuesday, PML-N Senator Rana Tanveer Hussain presented the bill in a Senate sitting, chaired by Deputy Chairman Syedaal Khan amid a protest by opposition lawmakers. Addressing the house, Hussain said no law or amendment is immutable and can be changed. "The PECA bill is for social media platforms, not for electronic media or newspapers, aiming to regulate civil society in a manner that prevents the misuse of social media," he said. Opposition members, however, tore copies of the bill amid chaos in the house. Leader of the Opposition Senator Shibli Faraz said his party, the PTI, does not support the bill. He said no one supports spreading fake news but criticized the flawed procedure adopted to pass the bill. There is a lack of necessary institutions, judges, and lawyers to handle cases related to fake news, he said. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Senator Kamran Murtaza complained that his amendments to the PECA bill were neither approved nor rejected by the relevant committee. He called the standing committee's report incomplete. The house later approved the bill amid a protest by opposition members. During passage of the bill, journalists also walked out of the Senate press gallery in protest, joined by PPP Senator Sherry Rehman, who listened to their grievances. The journalists later organized a protest march from Islamabad's National Press Club to D-Chowk. Lawyers and civil society representatives also actively participated in the protest. To prevent the journalists' rally from reaching parliament, a heavy contingent of police was deployed, and barbed wire barriers were erected. However, the journalists managed to cross the barriers and reached the gates of D-Chowk, where they staged a sit-in. Addressing the gathering, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) President Afzal Butt termed the bill a 'black law'. He said the government passed the bill without consulting the media, the most significant stakeholder. "This law is an attempt to suppress the voice of the media. Our movement against this draconian law has begun and will continue until its repeal," he said. The joint action committee of media bodies staged a protest demonstration also in front of the Karachi Press Club in response to an appeal from the PFUJ against the PECA amendment bill. Representatives from various media organizations, civil society groups, trade unions, lawyers' groups and teachers joined and supported the protest. Prominent figures, including journalists, media owners, editors, and workers from organizations such as PFUJ, the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), and others addressed the protesters. "The government has to learn the lessons as it was earlier used against the same party, which had passed the law in a haste," said Mazhar Abbas, a senior member of PFUJ. Mazhar Abbas characterized the situation as a 'civilian martial law'. He urged the joint action committee to advocate for the repeal of PECA, stating that they would not compromise on their rights. Azhar Abbas called for unity among media organisations to demonstrate collective strength to the government. PBA representative Qazi Ather reaffirmed the commitment to safeguarding press freedom, stating that they would not allow their voices to be suppressed. The Karachi Bar Council also issued a statement condemning the bill, describing it as comprising regressive amendments that constitute an assault on fundamental freedoms. PECA, a law enacted in 2016 during the rule of the PML-N, was aimed at addressing cybercrime and regulating electronic communication in Pakistan. It was meant to combat online offences such as hacking, data theft, and cyberbullying. The law was continually amended by subsequent governments. However, this time around, the PML-N government has attempted to make some drastic changes in the law which seeks to criminalize fake news which may land a person in jail for up to three years while also making liable for a fine of up to Rs2 million. It stipulates penalties for sharing content expunged from the records of the National Assembly, Senate, and provincial assemblies on social media. The amended bill expands the definition of illegal content, including matters related to religion, national security, public order, and contempt of court. It also criminalizes activities such as inciting crime or terrorism, spreading defamatory reports against constitutional institutions, blackmailing, and defamation. Illegal content also includes pornography, copyright violations, and material that undermines peace and morality or promotes criminal activity. The bill broadens the definition of social media platforms to include tools, software, websites, applications, and communication channels used for social media access. One of the key provisions of the new amendments is the establishment of the Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA), which will have the authority to remove prohibited content and take action against individuals who share such material. The authority will also oversee the regulation of social media platforms and has been given the power to enforce compliance through directives and penalties. The bill also proposes the dissolution of the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing, with its responsibilities transferring to the newly established National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency.
Express Tribune
28-01-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Senate approves PECA amendment bill amid journalists' walkout
Listen to article The Senate approved the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (PECA) (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill 2024 on Tuesday, amid a walkout from journalists and protests from opposition members. Chaired by Deputy Chairman Syed Al Nasser, the session addressed a 16-point agenda, with the Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill (PECA) being presented for bill was passed despite objections raised by opposition parties and media groups. The PECA Act was already approved by the National Assembly and the Senate's Interior Committee earlier. A majority vote also passed the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill 2025. During the session, Defence and Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif discussed the revival of smaller airports, saying that Chitral's airport is now operational. He also mentioned that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was improving, with flights resuming to smaller airports and new aircraft being procured. PIA's revival was acknowledged, and the government is working on opening new routes, including those to Chitral and northern regions. Senator Saifullah Abro raised concerns about PIA's limited fleet and poor operations, highlighting the need for more aircraft and timely flight operations. In response, Khawaja Asif assured that PIA was recovering, with new routes and aircraft acquisitions in progress. The session also witnessed Senator Azam Nazir Tarar introduce the Migration Smuggling Amendment Bill 2025 and the Immigration Ordinance Amendment Bill 2025. Both bills were referred to the relevant standing committees. Later, Minister for Law Azam Nazir Tarar presented the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill 2025, which passed with a majority vote despite opposition protests. Opposition members, including Senator Shibli Faraz, expressed concerns over the lack of consultation on the bill and objected to how the proceedings were conducted. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) voted in favour of the bill. During the session, Senator Kamran Murtaza's proposed amendments to several sections of the bill were rejected. The senator accused the government of infringing on provincial autonomy and concentrating power in Islamabad. Protests by Journalists over PECA Bill Presentation Subsequently, Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain moved the motion to present the Electronic Crimes Prevention (Amendment) Bill 2025, related to preventing electronic crimes, in the house. This bill (PECA Act) had already been unanimously approved by the National Assembly and Senate committees. At this point, parliamentary journalists once again staged a walkout from the press gallery. The Pakistan Radio Association (PRA) chanted slogans, calling the PECA Amendment Bill a "black law," and journalists left the press gallery in protest. On this occasion, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman came to the press lounge to show solidarity with the journalists. She stated, "We support the journalists' amendments. Stakeholders were not consulted on the PECA Act. This bill was not discussed in the committee, and PPP does not support it. We will sit with the journalists and bring amendments to the PECA Bill. We are working towards the formation of a council in the PECA Bill. Bilawal Bhutto has stated that we stand with the journalists on this issue." The Senate began the process of clause-by-clause approval of the PECA Act Amendment Bill 2025, while Senator Kamran Murtaza's motion for further amendments was rejected. The Senate then passed the PECA Act Amendment Bill 2025 with a majority vote. What is PECA? The Pakistani government is strengthening the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act ( PECA ) with new amendments to tackle fake news and unlawful online content. The proposed Electronic Crimes Prevention (Amendment) Act 2025 introduces severe penalties, including up to three years in prison and fines of Rs2 million for spreading disinformation. A key provision is the establishment of a Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA) tasked with regulating social media platforms and removing unlawful content. The DRPA will have powers to investigate complaints, remove content, and enforce digital ethics. The amendments also redefine social media platforms and mandate compliance from social media companies, which may require registering and appointing local representatives. While supporters believe the amendments are essential to combat fake news and hate speech, critics warn of potential censorship and misuse.
