President Zardari delays PECA Act signing over journalists’ concerns

President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has decided to delay signing the controversial Prevention Electronic Crime Act following concerns raised by journalists.The Parliamentary Reporter Association (PRA) expressed its opposition to the PECA Act through Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who reached out to the President. He urged the President to delay signing the bill until the concerns of journalists are adequately addressed, Express News reported.Sources say that President Asif Ali Zardari has delayed the bill for a while at the request of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, agreeing not to sign the PECA amendment bill until journalists’ concerns are addressed.According to sources, Maulana Fazlur Rehman informed the PRA about his communication with the President regarding the bill,Sources also mention that discussions between Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and journalist organizations are under way before signing the PECA Act, and a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and the Parliamentary Reporter Association is expected soon.Meanwhile, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said it was unaware of a lack of consultation on the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act 2025 (PECA) bill that it had supported in both houses.PPP Vice President Sherry Rehman, talking to journalists in Islamabad, said on Tuesday that they were told that all stakeholders would be taken on board, “which as one can see did not happen”. She assured the journalists of her party’s support in backing any amendments to this law proposed by media bodies.PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also voiced the same concerns as Sherry, stating that it would have been better for this legislation if journalists’ organizations had been consulted to forge a consensus.Earlier, the joint action committee of media bodies staged a protest demonstration in front of the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday in response to an appeal from the Pakistan Federation of Union of Journalists (PFUJ) against a recent amendment in the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). ).Representatives from various media organizations, civil society groups, trade unions, lawyers’ groups and teachers joined and supported the protest.The PECA, a law enacted in 2016, was passed by lower and upper houses, aimed at addressing cybercrime and regulating electronic communication in Pakistan. It was meant to combat online offenses such as hacking, data theft, and cyberbullying. Many journalists and media organizations have raised concerns regarding its implications on press freedom and freedom of expression.”The government has to learn the lessons as it was earlier used against the same party, which had passed the law in a hurry,” commented Mazhar Abbas, a senior member of PFUJ.What is PECA?The Pakistani government is strengthening the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) with new amendments to tackle fake news and unlawful online content. The proposed Electronic Crimes Prevention (Amendment) Act 2025 introduces severe penalties, including up to three years in prison and fines of Rs2 million for spreading disinformation.A key provision is the establishment of a Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA) tasked with regulating social media platforms and removing unlawful content.The DRPA will have powers to investigate complaints, remove content, and enforce digital ethics. The amendments also redefine social media platforms and mandate compliance from social media companies, which may require registering and appointing local representatives.While supporters believe the amendments are essential to combat fake news and hate speech, critics warn of potential censorship and misuse.