ISLAMABAD
\nThe Senate Standing Committee on Interior approved Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) amendment bill despite strong opposition from journalistic organizations.
\nThe bill, which has sparked widespread criticism, was passed during a meeting chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem.
\nAccording to the reports, heated debate has been witnessed during the meeting with media bodies raising concerns over the bill\u2019s potential to curtail press freedom. The committee chairman questioned the failure of media organizations to submit written recommendations, urging them to do so for a more comprehensive review.
\nSenator Irfan Siddiqui\u2013while addressing the committee\u2013remarked that \u201cIn this country, one does not need a law to arrest someone.\u201d He referred to his own experience, where he had been arrested under the rent law being a tenant of a house.
\nSenator Kamran Murtaza also raised objections, arguing that the bill was rushed through without proper consultation or consideration of its potential flaws. Despite the protests, the Interior Ministry Secretary defended the bill, asserting that it was meant to safeguard the public from harmful online content.
\nThe committee, however, pushed forward with its approval, stating that the bill, passed by the National Assembly, would proceed for further legislative processes.
\nDuring the proceedings, media associations, including the Anchors Association, voiced their concerns, highlighting the lack of time to submit their suggestions for amendments.
\nJournalists pointed out several ambiguities in the bill, especially regarding the definition of \u201cfake news,\u201d which they described as vague and open to misuse.
\nThe journalists\u2019 community expressed their stance on the matter, emphasizing that while they support a law against fake news, the current version of the bill, without proper safeguards, would only exacerbate the situation. They further stated that they, as victims of fake news, deserve a voice in shaping this legislation.
\nSenator Kamran Murtaza, along with Senators Irfan Siddiqui, Shaheed Awan, Omar Farooq, and others, participated in the committee meeting, while PPP Senator Palwasha Khan and Mir Hassan Domki were also present.
\nThe PECA Amendment Bill, which has been approved by both the National Assembly and the Senate Standing Committee, will now be forwarded to the Upper House for further deliberation.
\nMeanwhile, media bodies continue to rally against the legislation, accusing the government of sidelining their input in a matter that directly affects their rights and freedoms. Earlier this week, the National Assembly had passed the PECA Amendment Bill 2025 with a majority vote, prompting protests and a walkout from journalists in the chamber. The Joint Action Committee of Journalist Organizations has already rejected the bill. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD The Senate Standing Committee on Interior approved Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) amendment bill despite strong opposition from journalistic organizations. The bill, which has sparked widespread criticism, was passed during a meeting chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem. According to the reports, heated debate has been witnessed during the meeting with media bodies raising […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-457959","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n