Senate passes controversial PECA law tweaks bill amid PTI protests, journalists walkout
The Senate passed the controversial amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 on Tuesday amid the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s protest and journalists walkout from the upper house of Parliament.
“The bill is passed after a high number of votes in favour of the bill,” Senate Deputy Chairman Syedaal Khan said while presiding over the Senate session.
Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain moved the bill.
“PTI Senator Shibli Faraz almost has supported this bill,” Hussain said and quoted Faraz saying that the law needed to be safeguarded.
“I think they believe that the government was doing the right thing. They only want to criticise for the sake of being in the opposition,” the PML-N senator said. “This is a law and it can be improved. There is always an area for improvement.”
He assured journalists and lawmakers that amendments were not related to TV and newspapers. “It will only deal with social media. It is against those who are spreading fake news and tarnishing people’s character.”
The senator claimed that the country was heading towards improvement.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has called for nationwide protests against amendments to PECA today (Tuesday).
Last week, the National Assembly passed contentious amendments to PECA, which were introduced as a supplementary agenda just one day prior. The assembly suspended its rules to fast-track the bill’s consideration and passage, raising concerns about the urgency behind such actions.
Omar Ayub Khan, the Leader of the Opposition in the NA, criticised the bill, alleging it was designed to further curtail freedom of speech. He expressed concern that the legislation could establish a framework for silencing those advocating for constitutional rights.
Earlier on Monday, PTI protested against the amendments to the law and journalists staged a walkout in the Senate.
The bill, made by the PML-N, does not define fake news which it believes has affected lawmakers and the army chief.
The government has set three years of punishment and Rs2 million worth of fines for creating fake news. Moreover, the government proposed to form a nine-member social media regulatory body which would have the power to block or register social media companies and fine social media companies.
If given assent, the authority would be allowed to block illegal content against the armed forces, judiciary, and parliament. According to the bill, tribunals are formed to decide matters. The government of the time would appoint the members for it. Changes also include that its appeal could only be challenged in the Supreme Court. A three-year punishment is proposed on criticism.
Amnesty and journalists have described it as a “black law”, saying that it was against the freedom of expression.
The Senate Standing Committee on Interior passed it hurriedly. Interestingly, PTI Senator Faisal Saleem presided over the committee’s meeting.

PTI MNA Sher Ali Arbab told Aaj News programme Spotlight with Munizae Jahangir on Monday, “He [Faisal Saleem] has been taking instructions from those from whom he was taking during the 26th Constitutional Amendment.”
He added: “In this situation, lines have been blurred everywhere.”
In reaction, anchorperson Amir Zia said that laws are approved after consultations with relevant stakeholders to make them “conclusive”.
Journalists and the Amnesty International have described it as “black law”.
Zia warned that journalists’ protest could “snowball” and such legislation could have foreign implications like Pakistan’s exports to Europe countries under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus status.
Another anchorperson Shaukat Piracha said that the concern over not taking journalists’ suggestions on the bill.
Also, read this
Man from Gujar Khan sentenced to death for ‘blasphemy’ under PECA
Court sentences Christian woman to death over blasphemy on social media
“Today’s day will be remembered as a ‘black day’ in Pakistan’s history,” PFUJ President Afzal Butt told Aaj News. He lamented that politicians’ points of view change after they join the treasury benches.
“There will be protests across the country at 3pm today. It is not just a protest today. It will be a beginning to the press freedom and we will announce our next course tomorrow.”
Butt said that the way the government tried to table the bill implied that it wanted to “gag voices.”
The PFUJ president stated that journalists were in talks with lawyers to challenge the bill in court and appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari to incorporate their “genuine” objections.
For the latest news, follow us on Twitter @Aaj_Urdu. We are also on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Comments are closed on this story.