Senate interior panel okays PECA Amend Bill amid journalists’ opposition

The Senate Standing Committee on Interior Affairs, chaired by Faisal Saleem Rehman, approved the contentious Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (PECA), on Monday, despite strong opposition from the journalist community.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the meeting featured intense debates on the bill, with journalistic organisations expressing staunch resistance.

The committee chairman questioned the absence of written recommendations from journalist groups, stating, "Journalistic bodies should have submitted their proposals to the committee."

During the proceedings, Senator Irfan Siddiqui of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) remarked, "In this country, no specific law is needed to handcuff someone—I was arrested under a tenancy law myself."

Senator Irfan Siddiqui also said the PECA Amendment Bill will not apply to journalists; there is a long-standing misbehaviour on social media, and it must be stopped.

In the meeting, Senator Kamran Murtaza of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan (JUIP), elected to the technocrat seat for Ulema, strongly opposed the PECA amendments.

The bill was introduced by Federal Law Minister Senator Azam Nazir Tarar in the Senate on January 24, 2025, which was referred to the Interior Standing Committee for consideration and present reported within the next three days in the House.

It is noteworthy that on January 23, the National Assembly passed the PECA Amendment Bill, which aims to modernise Pakistan’s legislative framework for combating cybercrimes.

The bill, introduced by Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, seeks to protect citizens, institutions, and the economy from digital threats while fostering a secure and inclusive digital environment.

The bill proposes the establishment of a robust framework for tackling cybercrimes through the creation of key government mechanisms, such as the Digital Rights Protection Authority.

This authority will ensure the protection of citizens' digital rights, regulate online content, and promote secure as well as responsible internet usage.

The amendments provide a clear definition and regulation of unlawful online content to address issues such as hate speech, misinformation, and content inciting violence and harm.

The bill also introduces mechanisms to improve collaboration with social media platforms and enforce compliance with national laws.

Reporter: Awais Kiyani