In a recent session, the Senate Standing Committee on Interior approved the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Amendment Bill despite strong opposition from journalist organizations. The bill, which is aimed at regulating social media and electronic crimes in Pakistan, has sparked a heated debate across the country.
The session, chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem, saw a number of senators present, including Shahadat Awan, Umar Farooq, Kamran Murtaza, Palwasha Khan, and Mir Dostain Hassan Domki. During the meeting, representatives from journalist organizations voiced their concerns over the bill, arguing that it could negatively impact press freedom and contain several flaws. In response to these concerns, the Senate body chairman urged the journalists to formally submit their grievances about the bill in writing.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui, who spoke during the meeting, expressed his opinion that no special laws were necessary to detain individuals in Pakistan. He even shared his personal experience of being arrested under tenancy laws. Senator Siddiqui also mentioned that certain amendments had been discussed with the Information Minister, and more changes could still be made when the bill is discussed in the National Assembly.
Despite the opposition from journalist groups, the PECA Amendment Bill was approved by the Senate body. However, JUI-F lawmaker Kamran Murtaza opposed the bill, emphasizing the importance of carefully considering its impact on the freedom of expression.
This move comes after the National Assembly passed the PECA Amendment Bill on January 23, 2025. The bill aims to introduce a new authority to oversee social media platforms in Pakistan. This authority would be responsible for protecting users’ rights, facilitating social media platforms, and ensuring they comply with the law.
Under the new bill, the authority would have the power to take disciplinary action against social media platforms that fail to comply with the law, instruct relevant institutions to remove illegal content, and even register and deregister social media platforms as necessary. The bill has raised concerns about the balance between regulating digital platforms and protecting users’ rights, but the government maintains that it is necessary to ensure accountability in the digital space.
As the bill moves through the legislative process, it will continue to attract attention, with supporters arguing it will help tackle cybercrime and online threats, while critics worry about its potential to restrict free speech.
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