PFUJ challenges Peca law in Islamabad High Court

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Islamabad: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) challenged the controversial prevention of the Electronic Crime (Amendment) Act, 2025, (PECA Law) in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday. –

PFUJ President Afzal Butt filed a lawsuit through Advocate Imran Shafik, calling the legislation an attack on media independence.

“The PECA (Amendment) Act is unconstitutional and illegal, therefore, the court should take a judicial review.”

The ruling coalition has already approved the controversial amendments from both the National Assembly and the Senate in a short term in the controversial PECA law, in which opposition parties, journalists and media agencies decide its provisions with lack of consultation. What too

Journalists’ agency said in the petition that the PECA (Amendment) 2025 has increased sanctions on government control and freedom of expression.

It states that the PECA law has also violated Articles 19 and 19 (a) of the Constitution. Therefore, he pleaded, the law should be suspended.

“The PECA (Amendment) gave the government unlimited censorship powers. Without it, making fake news of any action is a violation of unconstitutional and media freedom.

The PFUJ said that the law has violated human rights as well as digital rights in Pakistan.

The petition states: “… a writ can be issued in which it can be announced that the prevention of the Electronic Crime (Amendment) Act, 2025 is unconstitutional, which is a violation of the basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution. The concept of proper process, fair trial, and regulatory freedom, as well as the ideas of justice, proportion, rationality, and constitutional boundaries, so invalid, and is responsible for eliminating it.

He said it is further prayed that respondents generally, and against the journalist community, and especially until the final request for immediate application, forced options under the Prevention of the Electronic Crime (Amendment) Act, 2025. Can be stopped from working. “

Meanwhile, while talking to the media in Islamabad, Shafik said that the law has banned the freedom of the media as the government wants to crush freedom of expression.

“There is no clear mechanism to deal with fake information. He said that the police can arrest anyone at any time at any time,” he said, adding that if a crime is involved. If he was involved, he would take him in the courts for three to four years in defense.

The law, which has now come into force after President Asif Ali Zardari’s consent, provides new definitions, setting up regulatory and investigative agencies, and a severe fine for spreading “false” information.

The new amendment reduced the punishment for spreading “fake information” online for three years, while the offender may also be fined up to Rs 2 million.

The new amendments have also proposed the establishment of the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA), the National Cyber ​​Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and the establishment of a social media protection tribunal.

In addition, it states that anyone can approach the authority to remove or withhibit access to such information “Fake and False information” and the authority will issue an order after 24 hours on request. –

The latest changes also say that the authority may need any social media platform to pay for the form and such fees in any way, in any way, in any way, in any way.

In addition, a new amendment also proposed a social media complaint council’s constitution to obtain and act complaints made by the parties against any violation of cybercrime law. –

It also proposed the establishment of a social media protection tribunals, which will resolve the cases within 90 days, which will allow the Supreme Court to be allowed within 60 days.

According to the PFUJ Press Release, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the harassment and trolling of the leading journalist and anchor Manez Jahangir through these elements, which against the press and free voices. Yes.

In a joint statement, PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Irshad Ansari said in a joint statement that “we stand firmly with Maniza Jahangir, who faces illegal attacks for unreasonable commitment to truth and justice. He said that despite threats and harassment, his courage and flexibility is a testament to his professionalism and the principles of journalism and human rights.

PFUJ Manez Jahangir and other journalists call for the immediate elimination of harassment and trolling, which faces similar threats. We urge the government to take concrete steps to ensure the safety and security of journalists and take responsible for these cowardly activities. He demanded, “The Supreme Court of Pakistan needs to take notice of itself, and the interior minister will have to interfere in this worrying and dangerous situation for journalists and anchors working.”

The PFUJ has also appealed to the journalist community, civil society, and the general public to express solidarity with Manez Jahangir and other journalists who are facing harassment and intimidation.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Peoples Party’s Human Rights Cell is deeply concerned about the dangers thrown at Maniza Jahangir, a famous female anchor of a private channel in the name of religion, and calls on all state officials to investigate the matter. Provides protection. Anchor person against trolling and threatening his person.

Former Senator Farhatullah Babar, the former PPPH Cell’s Senator, also called on human rights organizations and civil society to raise their voice against it and protect the affected anchor. He said in a statement Thursday, “Today, she is a female journalist, tomorrow it will be someone else.

Farhatullah Babar quoted German pastor Martin Nimler as saying that Nazi Germany had said after destroying the country: “First, he came to the Communists and I did not talk because I was a Communist. No then they came to the socialists and I didn’t talk and I did not talk. Then they came to the Jews and I did not talk because I was not a Jew.

Farhatullah Babar urged all sections of society and religious scholars to demand a neutral inquiry and express solidarity with the affected and appeal to everyone to refrain from trolling, intimidating and harassing. He said, “Don’t forget that it is God whose mill begins to grind when it starts grinding.”