Journalists reject PECA amendments, demand repeal

A joint action committee of media bodies rejected the amendments and demanded their immediate withdrawal.

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Journalists' organisations across Pakistan have strongly opposed recent amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), expressing concerns over the lack of consultation and its implications for press freedom.

A joint action committee, comprising the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AMEND), and the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), issued a statement rejecting the amendments and demanding their immediate withdrawal.

The committee emphasized that the changes to the PECA Act were introduced without consulting media stakeholders, a move it described as unacceptable.

The PFUJ separately termed the amendments deceptive, with President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari labeling them unnecessary and a violation of constitutional rights as they claimed the amendments were a calculated effort to suppress the media, social media platforms, and the broader journalistic community.

In its statement, the Karachi Press Club (KPC) also voiced strong reservations, condemning the amendments as a threat to freedom of expression.

The club’s President Fazil Jamili and Secretary Sohail Afzal Khan highlighted that Article 19 of Pakistan’s Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of speech.

They criticised the government for failing to consult stakeholders before passing the amendments and demanded the law be repealed.

The KPC proposed that the government empower mainstream media to report accurate information in real time and combat misinformation on social media through inclusive legislation involving all stakeholders.

The recently passed amendments, introduced in the National Assembly under a supplementary agenda, propose establishing a Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA) with powers to remove online content, restrict access to prohibited material, and penalize individuals sharing such content.

The amendments redefine "social media platforms" to include tools and software used to access them and extend the law’s scope to websites, applications, and communication channels.

Further, the amendments suggest disbanding the FIA Cybercrime Wing and replacing it with stricter penalties. For instance, sharing expunged material from parliamentary or provincial assemblies on social media could result in up to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs2 million.

Journalists protested the bill during its presentation in the National Assembly, walking out from the press gallery in a show of defiance.

The KPC and other organizations have called for immediate repeal of the "black law" and announced plans to decide their future course of action through consultations.

The amendments have sparked significant backlash, with critics labeling them an attack on press freedom and freedom of expression, urging the government to engage media bodies and civil society representatives before implementing any legislation affecting digital and press rights.