LAHORE: The controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act 2025 is being questioned by some saner souls even in the ruling PML-N.

Former federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafique on Sunday issued a statement on social media questioning the unbridled powers given to law-enforcers under the Peca Act 2025.

“Fake news has undoubtedly become a big problem,” the senior PML-N leader acknowledges, but objects to the vast powers given under the contentious law arguing that “no government should have unlimited power to clamp down on citizens.”

Regretting that representatives of the media organisations were not taken on board before enacting the law, Saad Rafique suggests necessary amendments to the Peca law in consultation with the stakeholders to protect fundamental rights of citizens.

He calls for giving the right to appeal before the high court against the decisions of the tribunals formed under this law.

He warns that with the change in time the stick of laws has always been used against those who had enacted them.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2025