Trends - Peca law

HRCP highlights severe contraction of civic space, erosion of judicial independence in 2025

HRCP chairperson calls document a "charge sheet"; report notes key court decisions narrowed democratic space; legal mechanisms used to curb dissent.

Published 04 May, 2026 05:51pm

PPP Human Rights Cell urges review of Peca to align it with constitutional freedoms

Farhatullah Babar says severity of sentences given to Imaan and Hadi and the circumstances surrounding it are deeply troubling.

Updated 03 May, 2026 10:27am

Bar association calls meeting after 400 lawyers demand urgent hearing of Imaan, Hadi’s sentence suspension pleas

Lawyers demand provision of "B-class facilities" to the couple in jail; call for an end to "harassment" of lawyers over social media statements.

Updated 15 Apr, 2026 07:48pm

LHC grants post-arrest bail to Canadian scholar in cybercrime case

Lawyer argues case against Hamza Ahmad Khan was false and manufactured with malicious intent.

Updated 07 Apr, 2026 03:26pm

Senate body forms subcommittee to examine Peca ‘misuse’

Senator raises concern over registration of FIRs against journalists and the public.

Updated 11 Mar, 2026 08:36am

IHC’s Justice Minhas questions what constitutes ‘fake news’ in Peca amendments

Court says legislation cannot be suspended through an interim order; hearing adjourned until March 6.

Updated 09 Feb, 2026 04:18pm

Journalist Aslam Shah granted bail in defamation case

Granted bail against surety bond of Rs30,000; Shah was arrested last week on charges of “defamation through social media”.

Updated 14 Jan, 2026 04:47pm

NCCIA gets remand of digital journalist Sohrab Barkat

Lahore judicial magistrate grants 4-day remand in case of allegedly spreading misinformation about state institutions.

Updated 29 Nov, 2025 10:28am

Rights activists want anti-harassment laws enforced in all sectors

Call for stronger implementation of existing laws, improved policing, investment in prevention programmes.

Updated 28 Nov, 2025 09:26am

Interfaith body set up to tackle hate speech, extremism

National Paigham-i-Aman body is a subcommittee of NCNB; Senate committee alarmed by misuse of Peca by provinces.

Updated 11 Sep, 2025 09:21am

Islamabad court orders release of journalist Khalid Jamil

Magistrate turns down IO's request for physical remand, notes that “there is no incriminating material” against Jamil.

Updated 23 Aug, 2025 05:57pm

Senate body seeks detail of cases registered against journalists under Peca

Nine journalists among 689 booked so far; info minister vows to follow up on claims of Rs1.24bn corruption in APP.

Updated 07 Aug, 2025 12:15pm

PFUJ slams ‘crackdown’ on freedom of expression

Condemns “escalating crackdown” on media independence; seeks withdrawal of proposed tweaks to Peca, Punjab Defamation Bill.

Updated 05 Aug, 2025 10:54am

Peca being exploited to silence independent voices: speakers

Roundtable organised HRCP and supported by EU.

Updated 18 Jul, 2025 11:03am

Speech policing

Sweeping accusations have once more exposed just how broadly and arbitrarily Peca is being applied.

Updated 10 Jul, 2025 10:27am

Senate panel expresses annoyance over registration of cases against journalists

Committee decides to summon secretary of interior for clarification regarding registration of cases.

Updated 10 Jul, 2025 11:17am

Islamabad court orders blocking of 27 YouTube channels on NCCIA’s request

They include those of PTI, journalists Matiuallah Jan, Wajahat Khan, Ahmad Noorani, Asad Ali Toor; former anchors Imran Riaz, Orya Maqbool.

Published 08 Jul, 2025 05:58pm

Sahiwal police arrest 3 for allegedly sharing sectarian content on social media

Taken into custody under alleged blasphemy and hate speech laws.

Published 01 Jul, 2025 07:00pm

Muzzling criticism

As the HRCP report rightly underscores, Peca has morphed into a blunt instrument used to silence critics, weaken fundamental freedoms.

Updated 02 Jun, 2025 09:24am

HRCP calls for repeal of controversial Peca

Commission’s report claims law contains serious flaws.

Updated 30 May, 2025 07:42am