Lahore: Lahore Press Club President and General Secretary of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Arshad Ansari, has announced a sit-in at Islamabad’s D-Chowk and voluntary arrests if the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) is not repealed.
Journalist organizations have taken to the streets against the PECA Act. A strong protest was held outside the Lahore Press Club, where journalists voiced their opposition to the act, the non-payment of salaries, and unjust arrests of media personnel.
Speaking at the protest, Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari condemned the PECA Act, calling it a “black law.” He accused political parties, including the PPP, PTI, and PML-N, of playing a role in enacting the legislation. He warned that if the law is not repealed, a large-scale protest will take place at D-Chowk after Eid.
Renowned journalist and anchor Sohail Warraich also opposed the act, stating that PECA is unacceptable to journalists and will bring more harm than good to the country.
Human Rights Chairperson Muneeza Jahangir also rejected the PECA Act, urging the government to engage in open dialogue rather than enforcing restrictive laws.
The protest was also attended by President of the Lahore and Punjab Assembly Press Gallery, Khawaja Naseer Ahmed, and Secretary Adnan Sheikh, both of whom addressed the demonstrators.
It is noteworthy that President Asif Ali Zardari recently ratified the PECA (Amendment) Bill 2025, which became law following his approval. The federal government had initially presented the amendment bill in the National Assembly on January 22.
The Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill 2025 introduces Section 26(A), which prescribes penalties for individuals found guilty of spreading ‘fake news’ online. The amendment states that anyone who deliberately disseminates false information, causing fear or insecurity in society, can face up to three years in prison, a fine of up to PKR 2 million, or both.
Under the amended PECA Act, the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority will be headquartered in Islamabad, with provincial offices established in major cities. The authority will oversee the registration and regulation of social media platforms while ensuring user protection and content moderation.
The law grants the authority power to take disciplinary action against violators, order the removal of illegal content from social media platforms, and address user complaints within 24 hours.
The authority will comprise nine members, including the Interior Secretary, Chairman of PEMRA, and Chairman of PTA (or a nominated representative). The chairman must hold a bachelor's degree and possess at least 15 years of experience in the relevant field. The chairman and five members will serve a five-year term.
The government has also decided to include journalists in the authority, ensuring representation from a journalist with ten years of experience, a software engineer, a lawyer, a social media professional, and an IT expert from the private sector.
To enforce the amendments, the federal government will establish the Social Media Protection Tribunal, headed by a former high court judge. The tribunal will also include a journalist and a software engineer to ensure balanced oversight of digital media regulations.
