PESHAWAR
The journalist community, under the banner of Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ) on Tuesday staged a protest against the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), saying that the federal government trying to gag the free media and trample the democratic norms in the country.
Addressing the protest rally held outside the Peshawar Press Club (PPC) president KhUJ Nasir Hussain, Vice-President Baseer Qalandir, General Secretary and others said that the journalists across the country have decided to oppose the presidential ordinance amending the cybercrime laws, adding that federal government had attempted to silence critical voices and freedom of speech.
The speakers said that PECA would not be accepted at any cost as the federal government tried to stop working journalists from field reporting. They said that the ordinance has created resentment among the journalist community.
A large number of journalists from Peshawar, Mardan, Nowsehra, Charssada attended the protest and demanded of the federal government to take back the ordinance.
It is pertinent to mention here that after the approval of the federal cabinet, the President Dr Arif Alvi has promulgated an ordinance to amend the PECA, 2016.
