Zartaj Gul warns new bill could jail social media critics

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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member of the National Assembly Zartaj Gul has expressed concerns over the new bill being passed. She says it will allow the government to imprison anyone who opposes it on social media.

Speaking to the media after a session, she stated that the newly passed PECA Act Amendment Bill introduces harsh penalties for social media users who criticise the government. Under this law, people could face up to three years in prison and fines as high as Rs 30 lakh. She questioned, “Are you trying to silence everyone in Pakistan and not allow anyone to speak against the government?”

She explained that under the new law, any social media influencer, activist, journalist, or even a regular mobile phone user who exposes the government's failures could be labelled an opponent and penalised. Zartaj Gul argued that this would result in the suppression of free speech, with activists being labelled as terrorists or anti-state. She added, “You want to label every activist as anti-state and silence everyone. No one could express their views or criticise the government anymore.”

Zartaj Gul also clarified that PTI will not support such an oppressive law. She warned, “This law will backfire on the government. What they use for their benefit now will eventually be turned against them. We reject this law.”

Furthermore, she criticised how the bill was rushed through the legislative process, Express News reported.

She pointed out that it was introduced in an emergency session of the Interior Committee without any proper briefing. "The Secretary of the Interior was late, and no proper explanation was provided for the bill," she said. “This is not how a country should be run, by silencing everyone.”

The Pakistani government has moved to strengthen the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) with new amendments targeting fake news and unlawful online content.

The draft legislation, titled the Electronic Crimes Prevention (Amendment) Act 2025, proposes stringent penalties, including up to three years in prison and fines of Rs2 million for spreading disinformation.

The amendments also outline the establishment of a Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA), which will have sweeping powers to regulate social media and online platforms.

The authority will be empowered to block or remove unlawful content and ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines.

The government asserts that these changes are necessary to address the rise of fake news and hate speech, which have contributed to public unrest and societal divisions.

While proponents of the legislation highlight its potential to curb online disinformation and ensure accountability, critics fear the law could lead to censorship or misuse by authorities.