With the Senate also passing the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Peca) (Amendment) Bill 2025, the country has – yet again – been pushed into an even darker corner as far as press freedom and the right to dissent go. Thankfully, not everyone has let this pass without notice, with robust critique and protest put up especially by journalists. These new amendments to Peca have been criticised for vague language and the potential to be weaponised against political opponents. The introduction of Section 26A – penalising individuals for spreading ‘fake news’ on social media – has drawn particular ire. The law’s broad and ambiguous language, critics argue, opens the door for arbitrary enforcement, potentially silencing anyone deemed critical of the government. Offenders face severe punishment, including up to three years in prison and a fine of up to Rs2 million. Government assurances that the law targets disinformation and is not intended to curtail media freedom have done little to quell the fears of those who view it as a direct attack on free speech. During the Senate session to pass the bill, opposition senators staged a walkout and journalists protested in the Senate gallery, accusing the government of sidestepping proper consultation processes and ignoring the voices of those most impacted by the legislation. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has declared January 27 a ‘black day’ for Pakistan’s democracy. For journalists, the fear is not just about the potential for censorship, but about the chilling effect that such laws could have on the media’s ability to report and critique government actions without fear of retaliation.
The Peca amendments also raise significant constitutional and legal concerns. Digital rights activists have warned that the law could empower state agencies to arbitrarily stifle dissent, bypassing the judicial oversight typically provided by higher courts. Instead of allowing the judicial process to unfold through established channels, the law introduces a special tribunal whose decisions would be appealed directly to the Supreme Court – cutting out the high courts entirely. Critics also argue that, while the government’s digital ambitions may align with global trends, the lack of meaningful consultation and the speed with which the law was passed raises serious questions about the ruling party’s commitment to democratic processes. Such bulldozing of legislation risks alienating those the government claims it seeks to engage – a case in point would be journalists’ organisations. Instead of fostering a constructive conversation, Peca’s latest version has only intensified divisions, creating further tensions between the government and its critics. The PFUJ has already vowed to take legal action and organise nationwide protests in a bid to roll back the amendments.
The government’s insistence on moving forward with the law, despite widespread opposition, reflects a troubling trend of disregarding dissent without even a fig-leaf of democratic pretence. As the protests continue and legal challenges mount, the government must recognise the importance of engaging with all stakeholders, including journalists, digital rights activists and political opponents, in shaping a digital future that respects technological progress, privacy rights, and freedom of speech/press. Peca in its original iteration was already a problematic law; now adding even worse amendments to it will do nothing more than give rise to even more fears of a brand new era of state control over digital expression.
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