PECA ACT : “Man is born free  and every where is in chains “

Many years ago, an old man in a shabby dress with unkempt hair was enthusiastically busy with his work. After meticulous examination and comprehensive study, he concluded a controversial theory at that time ( it was Galileo Galilei, an Italian philosopher )Early in 1616, Galileo was accused of being a heretic, a person who opposed Church teachings.
Heresy was a crime for which people were sometimes sentenced to death. Galileo was cleared of charges of heresy but was told that he should no longer publicly state his belief that the Earth moved around the Sun. He was house arrest for his “Sin” and what happened next is another narration which would be discussed any time else. 
Nowadays the writer has just remembered Galileo Galilei  (who was formally banned and banished by the Roman Catholic Church for teaching and defending the opinion that the Earth orbits the sun ) as his situation resembles a recent act that is about FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. 
Alas! As a nation, we are again facing such kinda circumstances in the form of the PECA Act. It is a law in Pakistan, passed in 2016 tackle crimes committed online. It covers offences like hacking, identity theft, cyberstalking, spreading fake news, and cyberterrorism. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)is responsible for investigating these crimes, with powers to access data, conduct searches, and make arrests.

The PECA Amendments of 2025 represent a significant escalation in Pakistan’s approach to governing digital spaces. It introduces stringent measures aimed at curbing cybercrimes, misinformation, and content deemed harmful to national security. 
We all as writers know that 
“A free press can be good or bad, but most certainly without freedom of expression the press will never be anything but bad.”

That’s why these changes have sparked heated debates over civil liberties, press freedom, and the potential for state overreach.

According to status, Pakistan is officially a democratic republic with a multi-party system. It operates under a parliamentary democracy, where political power is shared between the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches.

Since its independence in 1947, Pakistan has faced challenges in consolidating its democracy due to political instability, military interventions, and periods of military rule. The military has ruled the country for several decades, either directly through coups or indirectly through influence in politics. This PECA ACT is also an example of it, Pakistan is declared a democratic country but freedom of expression is under control and some orders about it are being introduced in the amendments of 2025.
At this time I don’t know  why an Arabic folktale comes to mind:
Four frogs were moving near a well. Two of them fell in the well. The rest of the two started to control their power of thinking and tried to hack their freedom of expression by shouting “ Don’t try, death is your fate. Stay still and wait for your death as you can’t come out of this well. It's impossible." One frog who was trying to come out listened to the voices of his “well-wishers “lost hope and died. Other continued his effort and hopped up to the lip of the well and survived. All other frogs gathered around him and inquired how he decided to continue his efforts instead of various crestfallen thoughts. They all were amazed to know the frog who was able to survive was deaf. 
The wisdom of this folktale is a message to all journalists community to consider themselves as a deaf frog and fulfil their responsibilities without listening to what is happening around them. 
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, Our great leader was a staunch advocate for “freedom of expression” democracy and civil rights. His speeches often emphasized the importance of free speech as a cornerstone of a just and progressive society. Quaid has said about the press,
“I expect the press to be completely independent, free from any influence or pressure from any quarter. The press should be free to criticize but in a constructive manner." 
On another occasion,n he advised : 
“We must learn to live as brothers and respect each other's opinions, work together for the progress of Pakistan, and avoid prejudices of race, colour, or creed."This reflects Jinnah’s belief in respecting differing viewpoints, which is fundamental to the concept of free expression in any society.
While Jinnah emphasized freedom of speech and expression, he also stressed the importance of responsibility. He believed that freedom should not be used to spread hate, division, or misinformation, but rather to foster unity, critical thinking, and social progress. His leadership was rooted in democratic principles, where open dialogue and constructive criticism were welcomed, even necessary, for nation-building. The need of the time is that the journalist community must present them as a responsible one. Self-reliance fosters editorial independence, allowing journalists to report facts without undue influence from political entities, corporate interests, or external pressures. This ensures unbiased, objective, and truthful reporting, which is the cornerstone of good journalism. Self-reliance is not just a personal trait but a professional necessity for journalists. It strengthens the credibility of the media, protects freedom of expression, and ensures that the press continues to serve its vital role as the watchdog of society. In a world where truth is often contested, self-reliant journalists stand as pillars of integrity and resilience.
When journalists are self-reliant, they are more likely to adhere to strong ethical principles. They can resist compromising situations, such as accepting bribes, spreading propaganda, or manipulating facts, thus upholding the public’s trust in the media.

In this challenging environment when different acts are going to be introduced in order to snatch freedom of expression we suggest to work more vigilantly to stop such conspiracies and keep in mind these words :

 “It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.”