LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi has demanded withdrawal of amendments recently made in the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act (Peca) through a presidential ordinance.

The demand came at a meeting with a delegation of the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) and the Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) at the Assembly Chambers here on Tuesday.

Those included in the delegation were Pakistan Broadcasters Association chairman Mian Amir Mahmood, Shakeel Masood, Chaudhry Abdul Rahman, Mohsin Naqvi, CPNE’s Kazam Khan, Ejazul Haq, Irshad Arif and Yousuf Nizami, APNS President Sarmad Ali, Naz Afreen Saigol, Omar Shami, Shahab Zuneri and AEMEND’s Mohammad Usman, Ayyaz Khan and Mian Tahir.

Fully supporting the demands of the Media Joint Action Committee, Mr Elahi said amendment to the Peca Ordinance should be immediately withdrawn. He said the Peca Ordinance was government’s discriminatory treatment with the journalist community and the people of Pakistan.

“Media is the fourth pillar of the state, and we fully believe in its freedom.”

The speaker said that freedom of the media was very essential for the progress of the country, and imposing any restriction on media freedom was not in national interest. He said he had always worked for freedom of the media and welfare of its workers because free media is very essential for the security and solidarity of Pakistan.

Mr Elahi recalled that during the PML-Q term in government (2002-07) a record number of electronic media licences had been issued, while criticism by the media was accepted.

Punjab Assembly Secretary Mohammad Khan Bhatti was also present at the meeting.

JI: Jamaat-i-Islami Emir Sirajul Haq reiterated his concern at the Peca and described it as an attack on the freedom of expression and civil liberties.

The government made an attempt to stifle civil liberties in the country, he told the media JAC which called on him at Mansoora. Mr Haq demanded the government reverse the draconian amendment and avoid putting curbs on media freedom.

“The JI condemns the law. We stand by the media,” he said, expressing regret at the rulers’ attempts over the years to control the media.

He said the Peca ordinance was introduced on a holiday, bypassing the Senate and the National Assembly.

“A democratic process of lawmaking requires open and transparent consultation with the stakeholders but the PTI has been ignoring the need since the day it came into power in 2018.”

Pakistan, Mr Haq said, was unsafe for the media persons, adding the journalists were being killed and harassed and victimised. He highlighted the need of unity among the journalist community.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2022