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National Assembly of Pakistan. — NA's website
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ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly passed the Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 and amended the existing law, drawing strong criticism from journalists.
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Secretary General Arshad Ansari told Geo News that journalists will challenge the amendment in court and have announced to boycott the assembly sessions along with protesting.
The bill was approved within minutes of being presented by Federal Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain as the opposition parties had already walked out.
The draft, titled “Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025”, includes new definitions, establishment of regulatory and investigative bodies, and tougher penalties for spreading “false” information.
According to the draft document, the government aims to reduce the punishment for spreading “fake information” online to three years, while they can also face a fine of up to Rs 20 lakh.
“Whoever knowingly disseminates, publicly displays or transmits any information through any information system, which he knows or has reason to believe to be false or fraudulent; has cause to do and is likely to cause or cause fear, panic or a feeling of unrest or disorder. Section 26A of the Bill states that imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years in the general public or in the community Can or fine that Can be up to Rs.20 lakhs or both.
The lower house of parliament green-lighted the bill hours after journalists’ organizations – including PFUJ, Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors, All Pakistan Newspapers Society, Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors, and Pakistan Broadcasters Association The Association rejected the proposed amendments.
In a statement, PFUJ Secretary General Arshad Ansari said that the government had earlier assured to introduce the bill in consultation with journalist organizations. “They had earlier passed a similar bill in Punjab and now they have done the same at the Centre.”
Apart from announcing a nationwide protest against the amendment bill, he said he would challenge it at relevant forums, including courts.
Pica Bill
Meanwhile, the new amendment bill also proposes the establishment of Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA), National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and Social Media Protection Tribunal.
The Statement of Objections and Reasons states that the Prevention of Electronic Crime (Amendment) Bill, 2025 aims to modernize and enhance the legislative framework for combating cybercrime in Pakistan, ensuring convergence with contemporary requirements. and address the growing complexity of cyber threats.
Further, it said, any person “concerned with fake and false information” can approach the authority to remove or block access to such information and the authority will issue orders within 24 hours on the request. .
According to the bill, the authority will have a chairperson and eight other members, among whom will be the secretary of the Ministry of Interior, the chairman of PEMRA and the chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) or a member of the PTA. It added that “the Chairperson and five members, other than ex-officio members, shall be appointed by the Federal Government for a non-extendable term of live years.”
The proposed changes also state that the authority may require any social media platform to register with it in any manner, form and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.
It further states that in addition to the requirements of the Act, additional conditions or requirements as may be deemed appropriate may be prescribed during listing of social media platforms.
The bill said the authority would be empowered to issue directions to social media platforms to remove or block online content if it is against the ideology of Pakistan.
- Incites people to violate the law, take the law into their own hands, coerce, intimidate or terrorize the public, individuals, groups, communities, government officials and institutions.
- Incites the public or a section of the public to cause damage to public or private property.
- Coercion or intimidation of the public or section of the public and thereby preventing them from carrying on their lawful trade and disrupting civil life.
- Inciting hatred and insult on religious, communal or ethnic grounds to incite violence or create internal disturbances
- Contain any obscene or obscene material in violation of any applicable law.
- is known to be forged or false or there are reasonable grounds to believe that it may be false or false beyond a reasonable doubt
- Contains allegations against any person including members of the judiciary, armed forces, parliament or provincial assembly
- or promoted and encouraged terrorism and other forms of violence against the State or its institutions;
Additionally, the new amendments also proposed setting up of a Social Media Complaints Council to receive and process complaints made by aggrieved parties against any provision of the Cybercrime Act.
The Bill also proposed the establishment of Social Media Protection Tribunals. Each tribunal will have a Chairperson qualified to be a High Court Judge, a Press Club registered journalist and a software engineer.
Tribunals are required to dispose of cases within 90 days, with an appeal to the Supreme Court allowed within 60 days.
Meanwhile, it also proposed the creation of an investigative agency called the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to investigate, investigate and prosecute offenses specified under the Act.
