ISLAMABAD: Leading journalistic bodies from around the world joined their Pakistani colleagues in rejecting recent amendments made to the Pre­vention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), which became law on Wednes­day after presidential assent.

In a statement, the International Fed­eration of Journalists (IFJ) said: “The amendments to Pakistan’s draconian PECA represent a transparent attempt to further tighten control over digital expression and internet freedom under the guise of curbing misinformation.”

The IFJ argued that by extending government jurisdiction online, broadening censorship powers, and imposing penalties for vaguely defined offenses, the legislation threatens journalists, activists, and the public’s right to information.

The organisation called on Pre­sident Asif Ali Zardari to “swiftly reject the bill and ensure the constitutional ri­­ght to freedom of expression is upheld.”

Afzal Butt, president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), said it was ‘very unfortunate’ that the president had refused to listen to persistent calls by the journalist bodies, who were pointing out issues in the Peca amendments.

IFJ, RSF join PFUJ to condemn ‘draconian’ changes to cybercrime laws

Another media advocacy group, Rep­orters Without Borders (RSF), warned that censorship and social media blocking in Pakistan signal a “very disturbing decline in press freedom in the country.”

The London-based Media Diversity Institute (MDI) also criticised the government’s increased control over the press and internet, stating that it has “resulted in uncertainty, a climate of fear, and discomfort among the masses.”

The Forum for Digital Rights and Democracy (FDRD), a group of stakeholders representing Pakistani civil society, academia, journalists, private companies, development organisations, and leaders of rights groups, said it was alarmed by the enactment of the Peca amendments, which were bulldozed through parliament without meaningful consultation with stakeholders.

The forum was of the view that lack of a consultative process not only questio­ns the legitimacy of the law but also risks unintended harm to free speech and diss­e­­nt, essential components of democracy.

It feared that the federal government will not only try to control the proposed Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority by dictating its composition and issuing policy directives to it, but also appoint members to the Social Media Complaint Council and Social Media Protection Tribunal, raising serious concerns about their impartiality.

Amnesty International, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and digital rights activists have already made similar observations.

Journalists hold protest

Earlier, media workers continued their protest against the Peca law and staged a demonstration outside the National Press Club.

Leaders of the journalist bodies said President Asif Ali Zardari had disappointed them as he had promised that he would never sign the law.

President Zardari signed the Peca law after the Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA) claimed earlier in the day the former had assured them that he would not give his assent to the law, adding that this was conveyed to them by JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. “The president, at the request of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, has halted the bill for some time till PRA Pakistan sends its suggestions,” the PRA statement said.

It said a PRA delegation had met with Maulana Fazl, following which he contacted the president. The PRA said the JUI-F chief expressed solidarity with the journalists.

Syed Irfan Raza, Ikram Junaidi and Anwar Iqbal in Washington also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2025