ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People Party (PPP) Human Rights Cell has demanded a comprehensive review of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) law in order to make it compatible with fundamental rights and international human rights standards, rather than being weaponised to silence dissent. It also demanded an end to the abuse of judicial processes as instruments of intimidation against citizens.

“Silencing those who speak for rights, justice and the marginalized is silencing the conscience of the society itself. The strength of a democracy lies not in suppressing dissent, but in engaging with it,” ex-senator and president of the PPP human rights cell Farhatullah Babar said on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day.

“The World Press Freedom Day today is observed in Pakistan amid unprecedented weaponisation of Peca law against journalists and rights defenders who dare raise voice against injustices, enforced disappearances or challenge official narratives with alternative narratives in the country increasingly becoming security driven instead of rights or welfare driven.”

He said on this day they also urge the adoption of legislation to protect the human rights defenders from victimisation and abuse of judicial processes.

He urged that the recent amendments made in Peca be reviewed. Apart from amending Peca last year for weaponisation, legal processes are also being abused.

Prolonged detentions without trial, delayed hearings, excessive charges and midnight knocks are new tools of coercion as we saw in cases of journalists Matiullah Jan, Asad Toor and lately Fakharur Rehman besides many others. Such practices violate constitutional guarantees in Articles 10-A and 19 of the Constitution, he said.

The severity of the sentences to Imaan and Hadi and the circumstances surrounding it are deeply troubling and raise serious questions about proportionality, due process, and the misuse of coercive legal instruments. He also expressed concern over the delay in the hearing of their applications before Islamabad High Court for suspension of the sentence.

‘Justice delayed is justice denied’.

The right to a timely hearing is part of fair trial, due process and a fundamental right. The long pendency of their application undermines confidence in the judicial process. The PPP Human Rights Cell also urged the Islamabad High Court to fix and hear their applications at the earliest and the Supreme Court to take cognizance. Justice must not only be done but seen to be done.

Deploring the vulnerability of journalists and human rights defenders he said that in 1998 Pakistan supported the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders but to lasting national embarrassment it later voted against a UN Resolution seeking protection of human rights defenders.

Amidst the stigma of Peca law on their face, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq stated in his World Press Freedom Day message that free, secure, and responsible journalism is a key pillar of every democratic society. He stated that journalists play a vital role in the dissemination of truth and ensure transparency and accountability within state institutions by providing timely and accurate information to the public.

Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that freedom of the press is indispensable for strengthening democracy, raising public awareness, and promoting the rule of law. Paying tribute to journalists who lost their lives while performing their professional duties, he said that the journalistic community has rendered invaluable sacrifices in the pursuit of truth and in becoming the voice of the people, which will always be acknowledged with respect.

The Speaker National Assembly said that the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees freedom of expression. He further stated that in the current digital age, the importance of responsible journalism has increased more than ever in countering misinformation and propaganda. He emphasized that fact-based reporting must be promoted to safeguard national interest, strengthen social harmony, and reinforce state stability.

He reiterated that Parliament is determined to enact effective legislation for media freedom, the protection of journalists, and the safeguarding of their rights. He added that providing a safe and conducive environment for media professionals is essential so that they can carry out their professional duties without fear.

He noted that the spread of misinformation and unverified news is a major challenge in the present era, and addressing it requires the promotion of research-based and responsible journalism grounded in facts. On this occasion, Deputy Speaker National Assembly Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, in his message, said that a free and responsible media is indispensable for the stability of a democratic system.

He stated that protecting journalists’ rights, ensuring their professional freedom, and guaranteeing their safety is a shared responsibility of the state and society. He reiterated his commitment that Parliament will continue its efforts to promote media freedom and the protection of journalists.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026