CPNE rejects PECA bill

KARACHI:

The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has rejected the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill 2025, presented by the federal government in the National Assembly, due to the absence of prior consultation with stakeholders.

In a joint statement, the president, the secretary general and other office-bearers of the CPNE stated that the government should have adopted democratic principles and engaged with relevant journalist bodies, civil society, lawyers and human rights groups before presenting the bill.

The statement noted that the bill included provisions for strict action against journalists and social media activists.