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DW
21-05-2025
- Politics
- DW
Is Pakistan's cybercrime law silencing dissent? – DW – 05/21/2025
Pakistan's crackdown on online disinformation has drawn criticism from rights groups, who say the law is being used to silence critical voices — especially journalists. Since Pakistan strengthened laws targeting online content earlier this year, human rights groups and digital rights advocates have raised renewed concerns about the country's press freedom. The amended Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) criminalizes the intentional dissemination of false information online that could incite fear, panic or unrest. Journalists are alarmed about the potentially wide reach of the law, which allows authorities to imprison social media users for up to three years for spreading disinformation and issue fines of up to 2 million rupees ($7,121 / €6,822). Journalists detained under PECA law Just months after the PECA legislation was enacted, journalists Farhan Mallick and Waheed Murad were detained. Murad, a reporter with Saudi-owned Urdu News, was arrested during a nighttime raid at his residence for allegedly disseminating "online disinformation" before being granted bail. "The law has been misused in a way that they pick up journalists prior to filing a case against them. The same procedure was followed in my case," Murad told DW. US press freedom no longer a matter of course under Trump To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Mallick, founder of Pakistani internet media channel Raftar, was also arrested for "generating and disseminating anti-state publications and videos, with the aim of spreading disinformation and inciting public violence." Mallick's lawyer Abdul Moiz Jaferii told the AFP news agency that he was released on bail after offering 100,000 rupees for each of the two cases he was charged with. Both journalists had reported on the alleged role of Pakistan's powerful military that has ruled the country for much of its 77-year history, an institution that many mainstream media are careful to avoid criticising. Among the accusations against Murad is sharing an investigation into a military general on Facebook. The same week, two brothers of exiled journalist Ahmad Noorani were "forcibly disappeared" from their home after he wrote about the growing influence of the powerful military chief's family, according to press advocacy group Reporters Without Borders, also known by its French acronym RSF. 'Lack of consultation' condemned Imaan Mazari, a lawyer and activist who recently represented several journalists and activists charged under PECA laws, said "we have seen enforcement of the amendments of PECA primarily against journalists and dissidents." "The state is not satisfied with its complete control over the mainstream media and so itqs desperate and short-sighted attempts to suppress social media continue," Mazari added. Legal expert on cybercrime Osama Malik, termed the PECA laws "draconian." "These laws are impinging on journalistic freedom. Journalists who fall foul of these laws have to deal with excessive litigation and also the cost of [obtaining bail] in different parts of the country," asserted Malik. Courage is essential in the fight for freedom of expression To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Press freedom groups have expressed concern that the government did not consult them before enacting such strict laws. "We wanted to discuss this law with the government but they did not take us on board," said Afzal Butt, president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists. The Pakistani government says the law is necessary to limit the spread of disinformation. Azam Nazir Tarar, Pakistan's Law Minister, defended the law as a "living document" and "everywhere in the world there are laws for sensationalism." "There are certain limitations in the constitution of Pakistan regarding freedom of expression," Tarar told DW, adding that "the parliament's role is to legislate, and it is the executive's duty to check the misuse of the laws." Controlling the narrative? "Certainly, this law is made to control the criticism of state narrative and you cannot even question the government acts and you will be silenced and if you speak you will be picked up by the police," said Sehrish Qureshi, a journalist and press freedom advocate who is the joint secretary of National Press Club in Islamabad. Media workers have borne the brunt of what many have described as an increase in state censorship as more people turn to social media for news. Legal expert Malik, however, believes that the so-called deep state — a veiled reference to the country's powerful military — is partially controlling the narrative through the PECA laws. "The deep state is finding it difficult to control journalists who use YouTube to disseminate their views," said Malik, underlining that this is particularly the case with YouTube creators operating from outside Pakistan. "The state tries to harass their family members who remain ... in Pakistan," he added. "A controlled democracy is not a true democracy, and there can be no true democracy without freedom of information," said Malik. "This law will stifle journalism to the point where new journalists ... will no longer know what truly independent journalism actually is." Malik suggested the law "could be the proverbial death knell for democracy, and it would take a long time for Pakistani constitutional democracy to recover from this blatant subversion." Pakistan is ranked 158th out of 180 countries in RSF's press freedom index. Turkish reporters covering anti-Erdogan protests face trials To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Edited by: Keith Walker
Khaleej Times
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Journalist kidnapped in Pakistan capital, says family
A journalist in Pakistan was kidnapped from his home in Islamabad on Wednesday, his family and lawyer said. More than a dozen people stormed the house of Muhammad Waheed Murad, a multimedia journalist at Saudi-owned Urdu News, taking him away, his mother-in-law said in a video statement. "Around 20 unidentified individuals stormed the house around 2.00am (21:00 GMT) and forcibly took him away, without presenting any (arrest) warrant," Abida Nawaz said. Murad's lawyer filed a petition on Wednesday at Islamabad's high court alleging unidentified officials "presumably from intelligence agencies" arrived in double-cabin trucks that they typically use. "The pattern of his abduction was the same as in the past," Imaan Mazari told AFP. "The abductors, their modus operandi, and the way they stormed the house in the dead of night make it clear who they are." The latest kidnapping came after Farhan Mallick — founder of Pakistani internet media channel Raftar — was arrested last week on charges of "anti-state posts and fake news" under toughened legislation. It came in the same week the brothers of exiled journalist Ahmad Noorani were kidnapped from their family home. Islamabad has been criticised by watchdogs for restricting Internet access, including temporary bans on YouTube and TikTok, while X remains officially blocked. The criminalisation of online disinformation has spread fear in Pakistan, with journalists among those worried about the potentially wide reach of the law. Pakistan is ranked 152 out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders' press freedom index.
Arab News
25-02-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistani minister meets SRMG CEO, discusses media collaboration, digital innovation opportunities
ISLAMABAD: The Saudi Research and Media Group, the largest integrated media house in the Middle East and North Africa, hosted Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar at its headquarters in Riyadh 'to explore opportunities for media collaboration, content development and digital innovation,' the group said in a statement on Tuesday. The meeting took place as Tarar was in Riyadh last week to attend the Saudi Media Forum 2025 from Feb. 19-21, which brought together over 200 global media professionals, innovators and thought leaders. 'The meeting focused on strengthening partnerships and expanding content offerings to better serve audiences across both markets,' SRMG said in a statement after Tarar met the group's CEO, Jomana R. Alrashid. The two leaders discussed the 'positive impact of SRMG's Pakistan based platforms, including Independent Urdu and Urdu News, as well as the English-language publication Arab News Pakistan, in delivering high quality content that informs and connects.' 'By providing accurate, credible reporting and raising awareness of key social issues, these publications foster meaningful connections between people, promote cross-cultural understanding, and strengthen ties with audiences in Pakistan and beyond,' the statement added. While speaking at the Saudi Media Forum, Tarar had acknowledged SRMG's 'positive impact' in Pakistan. 'With regard to SRMG, we have Urdu News, we have Arab News and we have Independent Urdu, which are doing a great job,' he said during a panel discussion last Thursday. 'And [this is] not only [as] digital platforms, but overall, they have a very positive impact on our society with regard to raising awareness on social issues, with regard to bringing news to the people.' During the Riyadh visit, Tarar and his Saudi counterpart Salman Al-Dossary also announced a joint committee to co-produce songs, films and documentaries. In recent years, Pakistani dramas and films, including TV classics like 'Dhoop Kinare' and the highly acclaimed 'Humsafar,' have been dubbed in Arabic and broadcast in Saudi Arabia. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are close regional partners and economic and security allies. In October last year, the two countries signed 34 agreements worth $2.8 billion for investment projects in various sectors.
