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Thursday, February 27, 2025  
28 Shaban 1446  

PFUJ observes ‘black day’ today against controversial PECA amendment law

Protests against law continue; lawyers announce plans to challenge law in court
Members of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists shout slogans during a protest against amendments in the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act in Islamabad on January 28, 2025. AFP
Members of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists shout slogans during a protest against amendments in the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act in Islamabad on January 28, 2025. AFP

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has announced that it would observe ‘black day’ on Friday (today) in protest against the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) amendment law.

In a statement, the PFUJ said that ‘black flags’ would be hoisted at press clubs across the country while the journalist community would hold protest rallies. “Journalists will cover government and non-government events while wearing black armbands.”

On Wednesday, President Asif Ali Zardari approved significant changes to the country’s cybercrime laws, despite widespread opposition from journalists and media organisations urging him not to endorse the law.

This decision came just a day after the Senate approved amendments to the PECA 2016, sparking protests among media workers nationwide.

Journalists have condemned the legislation as a direct “attack on freedom of expression” while the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has criticised the swift passage of the bill through parliament. The Pakistan Peoples Party, which has faced accusations of hypocrisy for backing the bill, has suggested that further amendments may be made to address the concerns raised by journalists.

PFUJ President Afzal Butt and General Secretary Arshad Ansari expressed their disappointment, noting that the Joint Action Committee had requested a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari. They lamented that it was “regrettable for the president to sign the bill without a meeting.”

The union announced plans to launch a nationwide campaign to mobilise lawyers and civil society against the controversial law. The campaign would also include a call for sit-ins outside the Parliament House to demand the law’s repeal.

Lawyers to challenge bill in court

Meanwhile, journalists have been protesting against the PECA Amendment Law. Many lawyers, who have joined them, declared their intention to challenge the law in court.

Both the gazette notification for the PECA amendment law and the Digital Nation Act have been issued.

The Islamabad High Court Bar Association has described the amendment as a “black law” and announced plans to seek legal recourse for journalists.

The Lahore Bar Association organised a rally from the Judicial Complex to Charing Cross on Thursday where they also passed a resolution against the amendment.

A special session on press freedom was organized at the Karachi Press Club, where KPC President Fazil Jameel and General Secretary Sohail Afzal Khan expressed concerns that “such laws are undermining freedom of expression.”

Journalists in various cities, including Kotli, Liaquat Pur, and Jhelum, protested against the controversial law.

PECA amendment law

The federal government presented the PECA Amendment Bill, 2025 in the National Assembly on January 22. The amendment included the addition of Section 26(A), which imposes penalties on individuals found guilty of spreading “fake news” online.

“Whoever intentionally disseminates, publicly exhibits, or transmits any information through any information system, that he knows or has reason to believe to be false or fake and likely to cause or create a sense of fear, panic or disorder or unrest in general public or society shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend up to three years or with fine which may extend to Rs2 million or with both,” it stated.

In Section 26A of the amended law, the term has been explained as any information disseminated by a person that “he knows or has reason to believe to be false or fake and likely to cause or create a sense of fear, panic or disorder or unrest in general public or society”.

Under the law, the central office of the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority would be located in Islamabad, with offices also established in provincial capitals.

The amendment grants the authority the power to register and deregister social media platforms, set standards, and ensure user protection and rights while facilitating social media platforms.

The authority would have the power to initiate disciplinary action against social media platforms for violations of the PECA Act, as well as issue directives to relevant agencies to remove illegal content from social media. Individuals affected by illegal activities on social media would be required to submit their applications to the authority within 24 hours.

Also, read this

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Journalists up in arms after Zardari signs PECA amendments into law

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According to the law, the authority would consist of a total of nine members, including the interior secretary, the PEMRA chairman, and the PTA chairman (or a member designated by the PTA chairman). The chairman of the authority would be a person holding a bachelor’s degree with at least 15 years of relevant experience and will be appointed for a five-year term, along with five other members.

The government has also decided to include journalists in the authority. In addition to ex-officio members, two of the five other members will be a journalist with ten years of experience and a software engineer. A lawyer and a private sector IT expert would also be included.

To implement the amendment act, the federal government would establish a Social Media Protection Tribunal, chaired by a former high court judge. Journalists and software engineers would also be part of the tribunal.

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