Media bodies reject ‘draconian’ PECA ordinance

KARACHI:

Pakistan’s top media bodies, APNS, CPNE, PFUJ, PBA and AEMEND, have rejected the “draconian” amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, saying it is a blatant move to stifle media independence, freedom of speech and dissenting voices.

In a joint statement, they said that they will take all legal actions to challenge any attempt to curb media’s independence and its right to raise voice against any steps to curb freedom of expression as guaranteed in the constitution.

They said that their Joint Action Committee (JAC) will, if needed, oppose any and all such moves with full might of its constituent bodies and individual members.

They added that it is evident that the government is adamant to push through its “ill-conceived and draconian agenda” through various presidential ordinances. All media bodies stand united to defend freedom of expression and people’s right to information, they further said.

Earlier, PFUJ President Shahzada Zulfiqar and Secretary-General Nasir Zaidi, in a joint statement, announced that they have decided to challenge the ordinance in court. They said that it is alarming that instead of reforming existing laws to enforce constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and right to information, the laws are being amended to make them more coercive.

Also read: Imran and company real target of fake news laws: Maryam

“All the stakeholders, including the media community and civil society, have been agitating for and demanding withdrawal of black clauses in PECA 2016 that are against civil liberties and basic human rights ensured in both the UN Charter and the Constitution of Pakistan, but it appears that the government is now making the laws more regressive in the name of dignity and security of institutions,” the statement read.

They said that there are clear provisions in the constitution for protecting the integrity and dignity of the judiciary and the armed forces, and questioned the need for further coercive measures.

The PFUJ leadership pointed out that the courts can use all available relevant laws to punish anyone involved in intentionally vilifying or defaming any institution with a mala fide intent while any citizen can be prosecuted under the Defamation Act for any similar grievance. Therefore, they added, there was no need to amend PECA for enhancing punishments.

“It appears that the government is driven by mala fide intentions as the proposed amendments, especially without any parliamentary inputs, are designed to further shrink the space for freedom of press and expression which is already deeply compromised as evinced by various media freedom indexes,” they said.

The PFUJ leaders said that despite this, if the government is still determined to introduce such harsh provisions and punishments, then the people would be forced to conclude that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government is on a mission to silence all critical voices.

They vowed to challenge this proposed ordinance in court besides launching a countrywide protest against its issuance. “This government action is unwarranted and deplorable and undermines democratic, political and media freedoms,” they added.

They also appealed to all media, journalists, civil society and political parties, as well as saner voices within the ruling party, to register their protest against this proposed ordinance and block it in parliament for saving democracy and freedom of expression and to prevent Pakistan’s further slide in international media freedom indexes.

HRCP demands withdrawal of ordinance

Separately, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) disapproved the amendments in the PECA and demanded immediate withdrawal of the ordinance. It said that criticism of the proposed legislation has been declared non-bailable, which is undemocratic. It added that critics of the government and state institutions will be targeted through this legislation.