Pakistan Journalist Bodies Intensify Protests Against PECA Amendment Bill

Lahore, Pakistan – February 2 (ANI): Journalist unions across Pakistan have ramped up their protests against the newly introduced amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, which they claim threaten press freedom. The move has sparked nationwide dissent, with media professionals, trade unions, and civil society groups uniting in opposition.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Secretary General Arshad Ansari announced on Saturday that protests under the Joint Action Committee (JAC) will escalate. Plans include marches to Parliament, sit-ins, and the "Jail Bharo Tehreek" (court arrest movement) to oppose what they call a direct attack on freedom of expression.

"The PECA amendment bill is a serious assault on press freedom," said Ansari. "We will not stand by while our rights are taken away."

PFUJ, along with the JAC, has also pledged to challenge the amended law in the high courts. While no definite date has been set, press clubs across the country will march towards Islamabad in a show of resistance.

Nationwide ‘Black Day’ Protest

On Friday, PFUJ observed a "Black Day", with journalists wearing black armbands and press clubs draped in black as a symbol of defiance. Protests have taken place across the country, including demonstrations by media professionals who argue that the amendments were passed without consultation.

PFUJ President Afzal Butt strongly condemned the move, stating:

"The government bypassed journalists entirely. The president signed the bill without even considering our concerns."

The Joint Action Committee (JAC), which includes key media groups such as the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), and the Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AMAND), has also joined forces in the protests.

What the PECA Amendments Entail

The controversial amendments introduce stricter penalties and expanded definitions under Pakistan’s cybercrime laws, including:

• The creation of new regulatory and investigative bodies such as the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA) and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
• The establishment of a Social Media Protection Tribunal to regulate digital content.
• Mandatory registration of social media platforms, which could impose strict oversight on online content.

As opposition against the PECA amendments continues to grow, Pakistan’s media landscape faces a critical moment in the fight for press freedom and digital rights.