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Arab News
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan journalist unions threaten protest as Azad Kashmir charges newspaper over ‘fake news'
ISLAMABAD: Leading Pakistani journalist unions this week threatened to launch protests over the government in Azad Kashmir registering a case against a prominent local newspaper on charges of spreading 'fake news' and 'negative propaganda' against state authorities. The Daily Jammu & Kashmir Times is an Urdu-language newspaper based in the area's capital, Muzaffarabad, and describes itself as the oldest newspaper in Azad Kashmir, the part of the Himalayan valley that is administered by Pakistan as a nominally self-governing entity. It constitutes the western portion of the larger Kashmir region, which has been the subject of a dispute between India and Pakistan since 1947. Last year, the Azad Kashmir government passed a controversial amendment to Section 505 of the region's Penal Code of 1860, making public criticism of government officials a punishable offense, with penalties including a minimum of 7 years in prison. As per a copy of the complaint filed by the Azad Kashmir Home Department Affairs on Apr. 6, the Mar. 26 and 28 editions of the newspaper had published a report with incorrect details about a new paramilitary Rangers force being raised to manage security in several parts of the territory. The home department accused the publication of spreading 'fake news and negative propaganda' that was damaging to the government and public order and registered cases under several sections of the Azad Penal Code (APC) that relate to offenses such as defamation and public criticism of government officials. 'If this case is not withdrawn, then we will begin our protest movement,' Afzal Butt, president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), said in a video message. 'This will begin from every village and city in Azad Kashmir to all of Pakistan's provinces and capital.' Butt said as per his knowledge, this was the first police case registered against a newspaper in the history of Azad Kashmir. The Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) separately condemned the case, calling it an 'open attack on the freedom of press and a cowardly act.' 'RIUJ demands that the FIR against Daily Jammu & Kashmir Times be withdrawn immediately,' RIUJ President Tariq Ali Virk said in a statement. 'The RIUJ leadership has said that if such authoritarian tactics are not stopped, a protest plan will be prepared soon.' The central Pakistan government has always kept a tight grip on Azad Kashmir but calm in the region was shaken last year when four people were killed and over 100 injured in clashes between protesters and law enforcers over inflation. The protests were called off days later after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved a grant of $86 million to help meet most of the protesters' demands, which included subsidies on flour and electricity prices. Through the decades, Pakistan and India, nuclear-armed neighbors, have intermittently rained mortars, shells and small arm fire on each other alone the Line of Control (LOC), a 740-km (460-mile) de facto border that cuts Kashmir into two. Since early 2021, the LOC has been mostly quiet, following the renewal of a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan. But the broken diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan, who fought two of their three wars over Kashmir, continue to cast a dark shadow over the region.
Times of Oman
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Pakistab: Journalist Union challenges controversial Peca law in IHC, calls it attack on media freedom
Islamabad : Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) filed a lawsuit in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday against the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Peca law). PFUJ President Afzal Butt, who described the act as an assault on media freedom, brought the complaint via Advocate Imran Shafique according to a report by Geo News. "The Peca (Amendment) Act is unconstitutional and illegal, hence, the court should conduct a judicial review on it," the plea read as cited by Geo News. The opposition parties, journalists, and media outlets criticized the lack of consultations and the terms of the Peca law, which was already problematic after the ruling coalition swiftly passed the controversial modifications from the National Assembly and the Senate. In the petition, the journalists' organization said that the Peca (Amendment) 2025 expanded governmental control and curtailed free speech as reported by Geo News. According to the report, the Peca law also violates Articles 19 and 19(A) of the Constitution. It argued that the statute ought to be suspended as a result. "The Peca (Amendment) gave the government unlimited censorship powers. Criminalising fake news without due process is unconstitutional and a violation of the media freedom," it maintained as cited by Geo News. According to the PFUJ, the law violated both Pakistani digital rights and international human rights. Shafique claimed that because the government aimed to stifle free speech, the law limited the freedom of the media. "There is no clear procedure to deal with fake information. The police can arrest anyone at any time under a cognisable offence," he said, adding that it would take him three to four years in courts for his defence if implicated in an offence as reported by Geo News. New definitions, the creation of regulatory and investigative agencies, and harsher punishments for spreading "false" information are all included in the law, which has already gone into effect after President Asif Ali Zardari's approval. In addition to a fine of up to Rs2 million, the new changes reduced the penalty for disseminating "fake information" online to three years. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA), and the Social Media Protection Tribunal were also suggested to be established by the new revisions. Additionally, it said that anyone "aggrieved by fake and false information" might contact the authority to have the information removed or their access blocked, and the authority would grant their request within 24 hours as reported by Geo News. According to the new amendments, the authority may also mandate that any social media platform sign up for its services in any way and on the payment of any applicable fees.
Express Tribune
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Journalists up in arms against PECA tweaks
ISLAMABAD: The journalists' fraternity observed a black day countrywide on Friday against amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), as media workers held protests outside press clubs, hoisted black flags and wore black armbands. All media bodies — including Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Pakistan Broadcast Association (PBA), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) and All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), joined the protests under the umbrella of Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the recently enacted PECA amendment Act, what they described as a draconian law meant to gag dissent. The flurry of protest activities took place across the country with the biggest demonstration held outside the National Press Club Islamabad, where journalists hoisted black flag on the roof of the club, raised slogans against the PECA Act, and made fiery speeches criticizing the government for using a law to stifle free speech. Addressing the protest rally, PFUJ President Afzal Butt termed the PECA Act a black law, adding PFUJ will hold protest rallies on a daily basis and spread the protest movement to every nook and corner of the country. He lashed out at the government for making amendments in the PECA Act without consulting the journalists' bodies. Apart from the federal capital, the protest demonstrations were also held at provincial capitals and big cities against the legislation. Journalists also gathered outside Karachi Press Club, Lahore Press Club, Quetta Press Club, Peshawar Press Club, Rawalpindi Press Club, Hyderabad Press Club and press clubs in other cities. They hoisted black flags to mark the day. They also raised slogans and made speeches against the government and the law. The journalists' leaders claimed that the government attempted to tame journalists under the pretext of curbing fake news. In addition, TV reporters, anchors and hosts also performed their duties by wearing black wristbands in order to express opposition to the PECA Act. Besides, the journalists also made coverage of public and private events by wearing black armbands. Despite the assurances of consultations with stakeholders, the federal government bulldozed the controversial bill in the National Assembly and then got it approved from the Senate in haste, which speaks volume about government's ulterior motives and ill-intention, stated the JAC.
Arab News
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistani journalists observe ‘black day' against new law to regulate social media
KARACHI: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) is observing a 'black day' of protest today, Friday, against a new law aimed at regulating social media content that journalists and activists have widely described as an attack on freedom of expression. The law, which amends the much-criticized Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) of 2016, establishes the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority to perform a range of functions related to social media, including being able to order the immediate blocking of unlawful content targeting judges, the armed forces, parliament or provincial assemblies or material that promotes and encourages terrorism and other forms of violence against the state or its institutions. The authority will have its own investigation agency and tribunals. Those found to have disseminated false or fake information face prison sentences of up to three years and fines of two million rupees ($7,200). 'In movement against PECA Act, PFUJ decides to observe Black Day tomorrow [Friday],' PFUJ said in a statement on Thursday. 'On the appeal of PFUJ, black flags will be hoisted at press clubs and union offices across the country tomorrow. Rallies will also be taken out.' The union said journalists would cover stories on Friday wearing black armbands, decrying that the upper and lower houses of parliament did not consult media stakeholders before passing the law. 'Despite the repeated appeal of the PFUJ Joint Action Committee, the president also signed the bill without giving an opportunity to meet, which is regrettable,' PFUJ President Afzal Butt was quoted as saying. 'A nationwide campaign will be launched to mobilize journalists, lawyers, human rights activists, and civil society … A call for a sit-in in front of Parliament House for the repeal of this black law will be given.' The operative part of the new bill outlines that the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority would have the power to issue directions to a social media platform for the removal or blocking of online content if it was against the ideology of Pakistan, incited the public to violate the law or take the law in own hands with a view to coerce, intimidate or terrorize the public, individuals, groups, communities, government officials and institutions, incited the public to cause damage to governmental or private property or coerced or intimidated the public and thereby prevented them from carrying on their lawful trade and disrupted civic life. The authority will also crackdown on anyone inciting hatred and contempt on a religious, sectarian or ethnic basis as well as against obscene or pornographic content and deep fakes. Rights activists say the new bill is part of a widespread digital crackdown that includes a ban on X since February last year, restrictions on VPN use and the implementation of a national firewall. The government denies the measures are aimed at censorship.
Express Tribune
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PFUJ declares 'Black Day' to protest PECA amendments on Friday
Listen to article The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has announced a nationwide 'Black Day' on Friday in protest against amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). In a joint statement, PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari stated that journalists across the country would hoist black flags at press clubs and union offices, alongside holding protest rallies against the controversial amendments. The leaders criticised the government for restricting press freedom, highlighting that while in opposition, the ruling party had strongly advocated for journalists' rights—an approach echoed by previous administrations. PFUJ leaders condemned the amended PECA legislation, arguing that it enables detention and penalties without fair trial procedures. They announced the launch of a 'Press Freedom Movement,' vowing that their opposition would extend beyond protests into a sustained campaign. Butt stated that the movement had already begun, with plans to stage a sit-in outside Parliament House until the amendments are repealed. Additionally, the PFUJ is exploring legal avenues to challenge the law, with legal professionals currently analyzing its provisions. While acknowledging that immediate enforcement remains unlikely due to pending procedural formalities, Butt expressed concerns that the government's swift approval of the law could indicate plans for expedited enforcement. He stated that the coming days would clarify the implementation timeline and reaffirmed PFUJ's commitment to supporting journalists affected by the law—both legally and humanitarianly.
