Latest news with #PreventionofElectronicCrimeAct
Business Recorder
23-04-2025
- Business Recorder
FIA's former Cyber Crime Wing transformed into NCCIA
ISLAMABAD: In a major move to tackle the growing threat of cybercrime, the government has formally transformed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)'s former Cyber Crime Wing (CCW) into an independent and autonomous body, namely, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). The newly established NCCIA has been granted full authority to prevent, investigate, and take action against cybercrimes across the country. This dedicated agency will handle a wide range of digital offences, including online fraud, harassment, digital blackmail, identity theft, fake websites, social media crimes, and other malicious cyber activities. According to an official statement issued by the agency, the FIA's CCW has officially been dissolved. All responsibilities related to cybercrime investigations and complaints have now been transferred to the NCCIA, it says, adding that citizens are now required to contact NCCIA directly for any cybercrime-related issues. The newly established agency is tasked with responding promptly to any reports of suspicious online activity or cybercrimes. Citizens can reach out to the NCCIA Helpdesk via phone at 051-9106691 or email at:helpdesk @ It is important to note that the FIA no longer deals with cybercrime matters. For any complaints or guidance related to cybercrimes, the public is encouraged to visit the nearest NCCIA Circle Office, it says. Grade-20 officer of the PSP and former Director of the FIA's Cybercrime Circle, Waqaruddin Syed has been appointed as the first Director General (DG) of the newly-established NCCIA. The NCCIA is to exercise jurisdiction under the Act [Prevention of Electronic Crime Act, 2025]. According to the PECA Act 2025, the investigation agency shall establish its own capacity for forensic analysis of the data or in information systems and the forensic analysis reports generated by the investigation agency shall not be inadmissible in evidence before any court for the sole reason that such reports were generated by the investigation agency. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
SCBA, journos call for repealing PECA tweaks
A consultative meeting held under the auspices of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Monday demanded annulment of the recent amendments made to the country's cybercrime lawthe Prevention of Electronic Crime Act (PECA), 2016. The meeting titled "Media Under Threat: Challenges Faced by Media Personnel Post-PECA (Amendment) Act, 2025" was organized at the SCBA head office. Chaired by the SCBA President Rauf Atta, the session was attended by members of the bar as well as senior journalists and media personnel. The meeting later passed unanimous resolutions emphasizing freedom of expression and denouncing the recent amendments to PECA. "This consultative meeting condemns and disapproves the PECA (Amendment) Act, 2025, being defective legislation, considering it a violation of Article 19 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of speech and expression. "This consultative meeting holds that the PECA (Amendment) Act, 2025, infringes upon the rights of media personnel as protected under Article 19 of the ICCPR, adopted by the United Nations and to which Pakistan is signatory," said a statement issued after the meeting.
Express Tribune
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
IHC acting CJ takes up PECA plea
ISLAMABAD: Justice Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, the Islamabad High Court's (IHC) newly appointed acting chief justice, took up on Monday a petition filed against the recent amendments to the country's cybercrime law, the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act (PECA), 2016. Justice Dogar was one of the three judges who were transferred from three different provincial high courts to the IHC through a notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice on February 3. Five IHC judges filed representations against the transferred judges after the IHC former chief justice, Aamer Farooq, issued a new seniority list in which Justice Dogar appeared as the senior puisne judge. Justice Farooq later rejected the representations and after his elevation to the Supreme Court, Justice Dogar was sworn in as the IHC's acting chief justice in a ceremony boycotted by a number of his IHC colleagues on February 14. On Monday, a single-member bench comprising Justice Dogar addressed the petition filed against the PECA (Amendment) Act, 2025 by the IHC Journalist Association (IHCJA). The IHCJA's lawyer, Mian Samiuddin, informed the bench that similar petitions against PECA amendments were being heard by IHC's Justice Inam Amin Minhas. Responding to a query of the judge, the lawyer said Justice Minhas had adjourned the case for two weeks. He requested the IHC acting chief justice to form a larger bench to hear the plea. Justice Dogar replied that Justice Minas would decide whether a larger bench was needed or not. He instructed the IHC registrar to club the IHCJA's petition with other petitions filed against the PECA (Amendment) Act, 2025. The petition stated that the PECA (Amendment) Act, 2025 is an attack on press freedom and is unconstitutional and illegal. It requested judicial review, arguing that the amendment act violates Articles 19 and 19A of the Constitution.
Express Tribune
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
SHC, LHC issue notices on PECA pleas
KARACHI/LAHORE: Both the provincial high courts of Sindh and Punjab on Monday sought replies from respondents including the federal government while hearing petitions filed against some recent amendments to the country's cybercrime lawthe Prevention of Electronic Crime Act (PECA), 2016. A division bench of the Sindh High Court (SCH) led by Chief Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddqui took up a petition filed by two journalistic organizationsthe Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) and the Society of Court Reportersagainst the amendments bulldozed through parliament last week. During the hearing, the bench asked the petitioner's counsel Barrister Ali Tahir as to what were his clients' objections to the amendments. "Should a person spreading fake news not be punished," the bench questioned. The counsel said the basic question was as to who was supposed to decide whether a particular news item was fake or not. The CJ noted that all things are not decided by court and some matters are left up to the discretion of the relevant authority. "The amended law does provide the option of filing an appeal against the order of the authority," he said. The counsel stated that it was a matter of fundamental rights which should be decided by courts. The CJ observed that if it was a matter of fundamental rights then it should be adjudicated by a constitutional bench. Barrister Ali Tahir noted that in its verdict in the Attock Cement case, the court has ruled that a regular bench can also decide the constitutional status of any law. The bench later issued notices to the respondents including the federal government asking them to submit their replies in two weeks. Separately, a single-member bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) comprising Justice Farooq Haider on Monday also sought repliesby March 5from the concerned quarter on a plea seeking declaration of different sections of PECA (Amendment) Act, 2025 ultra vires the Constitution. PFUJ Secretary General Rana Azeem, Punjab Assembly Leader of Opposition Malik Ahmad Bachar and Abdullah Malik advocate filed this petition through advocate Azhar Siddique contending that these provisions are incompatible with the democratic principles and protection of fundamental rights. They submitted that the recent amendments to PECA represent a significant shift towards increased government control over online content and a potential threat to freedom of expression in Pakistan. "The broad and vague definitions within the law, coupled with severe penalties, create an environment of fear and self-censorship among journalists and the public.
Express Tribune
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Panel to liaise with journalists on PECA law
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting has decided to form a sub-committee to address concerns of the journalists regarding the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The decision was announced during a committee meeting chaired by MNA Pullain Baloch. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Atta Tarar said the Act is solely intended to regulate digital media and would not impact newspapers or television channels, as they are already governed by existing regulations. Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has admitted for hearing another petition filed by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) against some recent amendments to the country's cybercrime lawthe Prevention of Electronic Crime Act (PECA), 2016. The journalistic organization — the PFUJhas also approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the "draconian" amendments bulldozed through parliament last week. LHC's Justice Farooq Haider on Thursday took up the petition for hearing and later issued notices to various respondents including the federal government. The petition argued that the PECA (Amendment) Act, 2025 was passed after suspending the National Assembly rules. It said the bill was introduced without consultation with journalistic organizations and will severely impact the freedom of expression granted by the Constitution. In its petition filed in the IHC through Advocate Imran Shafiq on Thursday, the PFUJ claims that the PECA (Amendment) Act, 2025 is an attack on press freedom. It says that the amendment is unconstitutional and illegal, requiring judicial review.
