ISLAMABAD (PEN): Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar assured that the government is open to discussing any potentially controversial aspects of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). Speaking to the media, Tarar emphasized that the law was introduced to tackle issues like deepfakes and fake news circulating on social media. He explained that Parliament believed legislation was necessary to curb social media abuse, calling the act “a good law” that would help control ongoing propaganda.
However, Tarar acknowledged the public concerns, suggesting that while there was some protest over the law, few were addressing the specific provisions they found problematic. “If there’s any clause in Peca that’s controversial, let’s bring it up and discuss it,” he said, indicating the government’s willingness to make improvements.
Although the rules for enforcing Peca have not yet been finalized, he pointed out that there were mechanisms like the Council of Complaints, which includes an appeal process. Once the law is passed, any changes made would be signed by the president. The government, Tarar added, is committed to ensuring a transparent consultation process and has included journalists and IT professionals in the relevant bodies, including the tribunal, which is required to issue rulings within 24 hours.
Tarar stressed that there would be room for appeal in the courts, including the Supreme Court, once the rules are established. He urged that if any provision in the law was still in question, it should be brought to light, assuring that discussions were welcomed.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) voiced his support for journalists, acknowledging that the government acted too quickly in pushing the amendments through without adequate consultation. “The law that was supposed to be made with consultation has now become controversial,” he said, admitting that the concerns of journalists should have been addressed before moving forward.
Under the banner of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), media organizations staged a *black day* across Pakistan. Press clubs hoisted black flags, and journalists wore black armbands to show their opposition to the controversial amendments. This came after the Peca (Amendment) Bill 2025 received the president’s assent, despite strong protests from opposition groups and journalists.
In Karachi, the amendments were denounced by journalists, politicians, and the legal community. Former Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani, speaking at an event, warned that the changes reflected a worrying trend in diminishing democratic space and debate. Journalists across the country, including in Quetta, Lahore, Thatta, and Larkana, joined in the protest, voicing their concerns about the new law’s potential to suppress dissent.
Hamid Mir, a renowned journalist, revealed that a grand alliance of media, legal, and human rights organizations was forming to resist what they called the “draconian” nature of the law. Afzal Butt, president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), made a passionate statement, saying the journalist community would continue to fight for press freedom, drawing parallels to the struggles faced during the military regime of General Zia-ul-Haq.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) also weighed in on the matter, rejecting a request to immediately halt the implementation of the amendments. The court issued notices to the government, requiring responses in three weeks before a decision would be made.
Despite the strong opposition and protests, the future of the Peca amendments remains uncertain, as both the government and its critics continue to navigate this highly charged issue. The calls for further consultation and revision underscore the deep divisions over the law and the balance between regulation and free speech. https://www.geo.tv/category/pakistan
