Bilawal credits PPP for softening Peca law
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the original draft of the recent amendments to Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) was very strict, but his party suggested many changes to dilute it, Express News reports.
In an interview after addressing the Oxford Union, the PPP chairman stated that the PPP has always been against the original draft of Peca law, adding that former prime minister Imran Khan was the first to try such a harsh legislation.
The government strengthened Peca with new amendments to tackle fake news and unlawful online content. The proposed Electronic Crimes Prevention (Amendment) Act 2025 introduced severe penalties, including up to three years in prison and fines of Rs2 million for spreading disinformation.
Bilawal stated that the Peca law was not an ideal law, but it was significantly better than the initial version that was proposed. He added that the law had been improved after consultations. He said that the original draft included even harsher penalties, such as a 30-year sentence.
"The original draft of Peca was very harsh. Many amendments were made to the act only because of the hard work and efforts of the PPP," he said. He acknowledged that "Pakistan faces various challenges, as democracy is not strong in Pakistan," he added.
He reiterated that the PPP played a role in improving the Peca law and ensuring that it did not undermine democracy. He also defended the 26th Constitutional Amendment, noting that while it had been modified from its original form, it still played a crucial role in strengthening democracy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
5 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Bilawal slams Indian aggression at Chatham House, calls for global action
A high-level Pakistani parliamentary delegation, led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, engages with members of British think tank, academia, and policymaking community at the Chatham House in London on June 9, 2025. PHOTO: PPP Media Cell/X Listen to article A Pakistani parliamentary delegation, led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, met with British think tanks and policymakers at Chatham House in London on Monday. Chatham House is the UK's leading think tank, focusing on foreign and security policy issues. Bilawal and other members of the delegation presented Pakistan's perspective on the recent tensions in South Asia, expressing deep concern over India's unprovoked military aggression. 'India's unprovoked military actions pose a serious threat to regional stability,' he said. He added that India's actions are a clear violation of Pakistan's sovereignty, international law, and the United Nations Charter. The delegation emphasised that Pakistan's armed forces, with the full support of the people, gave a strong response to Indian aggression. They further stated that the Pakistani military successfully thwarted India's attempts to establish a new so-called "normal" in the region. A high-level Pakistani parliamentary delegation, led by former Foreign Minister and Chairman Pakistan's People Party, @BBhuttoZardari, engages with eminent members of British think tank, academia, and policymaking community at the prestigious @ChathamHouse in London. Read More:… — PPP (@MediaCellPPP) June 9, 2025 Bilawal strongly condemned India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, stating that weaponising water violates international norms and sets a dangerous precedent. He urged the international community to take notice of this alarming development and hold India accountable for its actions. He also highlighted that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains a core obstacle to lasting peace and stability in the region. Bilawal called on the global community to support meaningful dialogue and ensure adherence to international commitments and respect for human rights. The delegation included Musadik Malik, Sherry Rehman, Hina Rabbani Khar, Khurram Dastgir, Faisal Sabzwari, Bushra Anjum Butt, Jalil Abbas Jilani, and Tehmina Janjua. Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK, Dr Mohammad Faisal, was also present during the roundtable conference.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan's high-level multi party delegation arrives in London
The nine-member high level parliamentary delegation led by former Foreign Minister and Chairman Pakistan People's Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has arrived in London after completing successful visits to Washington and New York, Radio Pakistan reported. The delegation has been appointed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to project Pakistan's position on the recent clash with India and highlight the need for the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. The other members of the delegation include Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr Musadik Masood Malik; Chairperson, Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination and former Minister for Information and Climate Change, Senator Sherry Rehman; Chairperson, National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and former Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar; former Minister for Commerce, Defence and Foreign Affairs, Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan; MQM's Parliamentary Leader in the Senate and former Minister for Maritime Affairs, Senator Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari; and Senator Bushra Anjum Butt. The delegation also includes two former Foreign Secretaries, Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani, who also served as Caretaker Foreign Minister, and Ambassador Tehmina Janjua. In London, the delegation will hold meetings with the senior leadership of the UK Parliament, including All Parties Parliamentary Groups on Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir. They will also meet with leadership and senior officials at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The delegation members would extensively engage with leading think tanks and international media to highlight Pakistan's efforts for regional peace. During their visit, the delegation will highlight Pakistan's responsible and restrained conduct – seeking peace with responsibility – in the face of India's reckless and belligerent actions in violation of international law. They will also highlight that dialogue and diplomacy should take precedence over conflict and confrontation. The delegation will underscore the imperative for the international community to play its due role in promoting a lasting peace in South Asia. The need for immediate resumption of the normal functioning of the Indus Waters Treaty will also be a key theme of the delegation's outreach.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business Recorder
Bilawal urges India to end ‘excuses', resume dialogue with Pakistan
Former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday urged India to move beyond what he termed 'repetitive excuses' and engage in meaningful dialogue with Pakistan to address long-standing bilateral issues. Speaking at a press conference in Washington following a series of meetings with US lawmakers, policy experts and think tanks, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman criticized New Delhi's reluctance to resume talks, saying it was counterproductive to regional peace. 'India continues to evade efforts for dialogue and investigations. The excuses vary, be it civil-military dynamics, geopolitics, or blanket narratives linking Muslims with terrorism, but they all serve the same purpose: avoidance,' Bilawal said. Bilawal Bhutto warns of escalating water disputes with India, calls for diplomatic engagement 'It's not sustainable for two nuclear-armed neighbours with such low conflict thresholds to lack any structured dispute resolution mechanism.' The former foreign minister is part of a high-level Pakistani delegation currently visiting key Western capitals as part of a diplomatic outreach initiative aimed at presenting Islamabad's stance on recent tensions with India. The delegation, which includes senior political figures and former diplomats, will also visit London and Brussels in the coming days. Alongside Bilawal, the group includes former foreign ministers Hina Rabbani Khar and Khurram Dastgir Khan, Senators Sherry Rehman, Musadik Malik, Faisal Sabzwari and Bushra Anjum Butt, as well as seasoned diplomats Jalil Abbas Jilani and Tehmina Janjua. Bilawal emphasized that Pakistan's civil and military leadership are united in their stance against terrorism, and that dialogue with India is essential for regional stability. He reiterated Islamabad's openness to talks at both political and military levels. 'If India truly seeks peace, it must be willing to engage, whether through direct talks or through mediation by international stakeholders,' he said. 'Unfortunately, New Delhi has rejected all options, be it engagement through the UN, third-party mediation, or bilateral diplomacy.' He further stressed that reversing decisions that have escalated tensions would be a constructive step forward. 'It is in everyone's interest, including India's, to revisit policies that have only led to a diplomatic freeze and increased hostility.' The Pakistani delegation's engagement in Washington is seen as part of a broader attempt to counter India's expanding diplomatic footprint and narrative, particularly in Western capitals.
