Latest news with #PreventionofElectronicCrimes(Amendment)Act2025
Express Tribune
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
LHC, IHC take up pleas against PECA
The Lahore High Court has sought replies from the PTA and the Punjab government on petitions filed by the PUJ and others challenging the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act 2025. During the proceedings, Justice Farooq Haider expressed displeasure over the non-submission of replies by the Punjab government and the PTA. However, the federal government had already submitted its response. The PTA's counsel requested additional time to file a reply. Granting the request, Justice Haider warned that if the PTA fails to submit its response by the next hearing, legal action will be taken. Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued notices to the respondents on another identical petition against the Prevention of Electronic Crime Amendment Act 2025 (PECA 2025). The court also summoned Attorney General of Pakistan for assistance in the case on next hearing. Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas of the IHC heard the petition against the PECA Amendment Act filed through lawyer Adil Aziz Qazi. The court noted that there are other similar petitions pending before the court. The court issued notices to the parties and adjourned the hearing till April 17. The petitioner has named ministries of information, law and justice and others as respondents in the case. It may be mentioned that the identical petitions of PFUJ, Islamabad High Court Journalists Association and others against the PECA Amendment Act are also under hearing at high court. (More input from APP)
Express Tribune
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
President Zardari delays PECA Act signing over journalists' concerns
Listen to article President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has decided to delay signing the controversial Prevention Electronic Crime Act following concerns raised by journalists. The Parliamentary Reporter Association (PRA) expressed its opposition to the PECA Act through Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who reached out to the President. He urged the President to delay signing the bill until the concerns of journalists are adequately addressed, Express News reported. Sources say that President Asif Ali Zardari has delayed the bill for a while at the request of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, agreeing not to sign the PECA amendment bill until journalists' concerns are addressed. According to sources, Maulana Fazlur Rehman informed the PRA about his communication with the President regarding the bill, Express News reported. Sources also mention that discussions between the Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and journalist organisations are under way before signing the PECA Act, and a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and the Parliamentary Reporter Association is expected soon. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said it was unaware of a lack of consultation on the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act 2025 ( PECA ) bill that it had supported in both houses. PPP Vice President Sherry Rehman, talking to journalists in Islamabad, said on Tuesday that they were told that all stakeholders would be taken on board, "which as one can see did not happen". She assured the journalists of her party's support in backing any amendments to this law proposed by media bodies. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also voiced the same concerns as Sherry, stating that it would have been better for this legislation if journalists' organizations had been consulted to forge a consensus. Earlier, the joint action committee of media bodies staged a protest demonstration in front of the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday in response to an appeal from the Pakistan Federation of Union of Journalists (PFUJ) against a recent amendment in the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). Representatives from various media organisations, civil society groups, trade unions, lawyers' groups and teachers joined and supported the protest. The PECA, a law enacted in 2016, was passed by lower and upper houses, aimed at addressing cybercrime and regulating electronic communication in Pakistan. It was meant to combat online offences such as hacking, data theft, and cyberbullying. Many journalists and media organisations have raised concerns regarding its implications on press freedom and freedom of expression. "The government has to learn the lessons as it was earlier used against the same party, which had passed the law in a haste," commented Mazhar Abbas, a senior member of PFUJ. What is PECA? The Pakistani government is strengthening the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act ( PECA ) with new amendments to tackle fake news and unlawful online content. The proposed Electronic Crimes Prevention (Amendment) Act 2025 introduces severe penalties, including up to three years in prison and fines of Rs2 million for spreading disinformation. A key provision is the establishment of a Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA) tasked with regulating social media platforms and removing unlawful content. The DRPA will have powers to investigate complaints, remove content, and enforce digital ethics. The amendments also redefine social media platforms and mandate compliance from social media companies, which may require registering and appointing local representatives. While supporters believe the amendments are essential to combat fake news and hate speech, critics warn of potential censorship and misuse.
Express Tribune
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Is PPP's role in PECA bill passage dubious
LAHORE: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said it was unaware of a lack of consultation on the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act 2025 (PECA) bill that it had supported in both houses. PPP Vice President Sherry Rehman, talking to journalists in Islamabad, said on Tuesday that they were told that all stakeholders would be taken on board, "which as one can see did not happen". She assured the journalists of her party's support in backing any amendments to this law proposed by media bodies. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also voiced the same concerns as Sherry, stating that it would have been better for this legislation if journalists' organizations had been consulted to forge a consensus. The PPP had opted for a similar strategy when the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had introduced a media/social media law in the Punjab Assembly. The assembly had passed the bill in May last year under which those found guilty of airing, publishing and drafting fake news could be punished for up to six months and could be fined up to Rs3 million by special tribunals. The government then had not agreed to send the draft bill to a selected committee comprising opposition members to invite all stakeholders for consultation, saying the bill had already been discussed threadbare by the special committee. Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider, who belongs to the PPP, had then raised his serious apprehensions about the bill and said he, after reviewing it, might send it back to the provincial assembly along with his suggestions. The Punjab PPP had also expressed similar concerns regarding lack of consultation. The governor first withheld the bill at his office for more than ten days and later left for a foreign tour, leaving the office to the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly who, in his absence, assumed the charge of acting governor. The acting speaker granted his assent to the bill. Under Article 116 of the Constitution, the Punjab governor only had 10 days to give his assent to the bill or send it back, which meant that if the governor had any intention of returning it to the assembly, he would have done so within the stipulated time period. Several PPP leaders were reached for commentsome were unavailable, others refused to speak on the matter claiming that party leadership had already revealed its position on the matter. Former Punjab caretaker chief minister Hasan Askari Rizvi said on the matter that "No party has a long broad vision nor any concern for its public image. Political leaders are moving with a tunnel vision", he said.
