Peca amendments: Opposition, media bodies announce nationwide protests
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This file photo shows journalists protesting against press censorship. — AFP
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Following the passage of the Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 in the National Assembly, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the journalist community staged nationwide protests. Pulled up the socks for the movement.
The bill was passed by Federal Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain within minutes of introducing it in the lower house as the opposition parties had already walked out. Journalists also walked out of the press gallery after the passage of the bill.
The draft “Prevention of Electronic Crime (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 violators can be fined up to Rs 2 million.
The newly amended bill also proposes the establishment of Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA), National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and Social Media Protection Tribunal.
Opposition lawmakers called the amendments a “black law” and criticized the government’s move to “suppress freedom of expression” in the country.
The party founded by Imran Khan announced a nationwide protest against the amended media laws.
Senior PTI leader and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub criticized the federal government for approving the amended law.
He further said that the passage of PECA amendments showed the negative attitude of the present government and announced that there would be a protest in Parliament.
“We reject PICA, which is a black law. […] Freedom of expression is being stifled by the implementation of these rules,” said PTI leader and former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser.
He added that his party would launch a struggle against the “unconstitutional step” from the platform of the opposition coalition.
PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram announced that his party would hold nationwide protests against the act and would also participate in journalists’ demonstrations.
Commenting on the amendments, Akram claimed that the rulers “only fear PTI’s social media cell” and “want to control social media at any cost”.
This surprising move by the government has not only drawn criticism from the opposition but has also earned the ire of the journalist community.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) has also rejected the PECA amendments, saying they were “passed or approved without consultation with media organisations”.
JAC is a joint body of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) and Pakistan Represents broadcasters. Association (PBA)
In its joint statement, it said the draft was not shared with the JAC and its members. Before studying the draft, none of the JAC members are in a position to comment on the proposed amendments.
The media body requested the government not to pass any amendment to the bill without proper consultation with all stakeholders.
After this, PFUJ President Afzal Butt said in a statement that he will announce the date of the protest movement against the PECA Amendment Act 2025 tomorrow (Friday) after consultation.
He further said that the government has hurt the confidence of journalists by presenting the bill in the lower house. The PFUJ president also claimed that journalist organizations have been assured by the federal government that the draft amendments will be consulted before they are taken to Parliament.
PFUJ Secretary General Arshad Ansari told Geo News that the journalists will challenge these changes in the court and protest as well as announce a boycott of the assembly sessions.
“They had earlier passed a similar bill in Punjab and now they have done the same at the Centre,” Ansari said.
Apart from announcing a nationwide protest against the amended bill, he said he would challenge it at relevant forums, including courts.
Osama Khalji, director of Bolo Bhi, a civil society organization, criticized the development in a post on X.
“The Pica Amendment needs to be seen in the context of what the state is doing illegally: using the pretext of “fake news” to silence criticism of its policies and reporting it wants to be unanswerable. The PMLN and the PPP have succeeded in doing what the PTI has failed to do: screw up PECA,” Khilji said.
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.
Additionally, it said, any person “concerned with false and inaccurate information” may seek authority to remove or block access to such information. may approach and the Authority shall issue orders within 24 hours on the application.
According to the bill, the authority should consist of a chairperson and eight other members, including 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.”
