The petition argues that the amendments enable the government to exercise increased formulated controls over civil liberties and propagate censorship.
This statement was originally published on digitalrightsmonitor.pk on 18 February 2025.
A petition against the recent changes to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) has been filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC). It was taken up for hearing on Monday by Acting Chief Justice Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar.
This is the second petition filed by a major body in the IHC against the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, with the first lodged on February 7, 2025, by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ).
The IHC Journalists Association (IHCJA) has filed the latest petition, terming the revised PECA a “severe attack” on press freedom and arguing that it stands in violation of fundamental constitutional rights.
The petition states that the amended PECA violates Articles 19 (freedom of speech) and 19A (right to information), in addition to enabling the government to exercise increased formulated controls over civil liberties and propagate censorship.
The amendments to PECA have been roundly condemned by journalists, activists, and rights bodies, including international organizations such as Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Journalists across the country have held demonstrations against the revisions, calling on the government to repeal the changes.
PECA, which was enforced in 2016, has been a flashpoint for rights activists and state authorities, due primarily to its weaponisation to silence criticism of those in power and dissenting voices. The law now incorporates a vague definition for the term “fake news”, along with stricter punishment for individuals accused of spreading mis-and-disinformation.
It also establishes four new regulatory bodies: Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, Social Media Complaint Council, Social Media Protection Tribunals, and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency.
