Latest news with #ElectronicCrimesPrevention(Amendment)Act2025
Express Tribune
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
LHC summons Punjab govt, Pemra officials on PECA pleas
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday summoned representatives from the Punjab government and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) regarding petitions filed against the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2025. Justice Farooq Haider presided over the hearing, where the federal government submitted its responses to the petitions. However, the Punjab government and PEMRA failed to provide their replies, drawing the court's criticism, Express News reported. During the proceedings, a lawyer representing the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) requested additional time to submit their response, but Justice Haider warned that the law would take its course if the court's queries remained unanswered by the next hearing. The court adjourned the hearing until March 13, 2025. 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. Last week, 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.
Express Tribune
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
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.
