January 27, 2025
By Rana Malhi
ISLAMABAD
The Senate Standing Committee on Interior approved the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Amendment (PECA) Bill on Monday, without any meaningful consultation with journalists present at the hearing.
PTI chairperson Barrister Gohar Khan said the party had issued a show-cause notice to PTI Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman about his role in the approval of the bill in the standing committee that he was the chair of.
Meanwhile, a Joint Action Committee (JAC) of media bodies, comprising the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), the Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND), and the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), had written to the committee’s chairman Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman for a hearing with media representatives before the committee held its meeting to deliberate on the bill.
‘No time given for recommendations’
On Monday, Senator Irfan Siddiqui invited media representatives to join the hurriedly-called meeting of the standing committee and present their objections to the PECA amendment bill. The committee chairman questioned representatives from journalistic organisations about not submitting their written recommendations about the PECA bill.
Shahzad Iqbal, head of the Anchors’ Association and one of the media representatives, raised objections to the bill, adding that media representatives were not given enough time to submit written recommendations.
“There are many flaws in the bill which may lead to deterioration rather than improvement,” he said.
Anchor Amir Abbas pointed out that the interpretation of ‘fake news’ in the bill was vague, adding that news anchors were also victims of fake news and they would have supported legislation to curb fake news in the country. However, he said, media representatives could not accept something like the PECA Amendment Bill especially in its current form.
‘Bill bulldozed through Senate committee’
One of the most vocal opponents of the Bill has been digital rights activist Usama Khilji who has been warning of the Bill’s dire consequences.
“The Senate Standing Committee on Interior bulldozed the PECA amendment without any debate or changes proposed in the meeting,” said Khilji. He was also one of the media representatives in the meeting. He said that the meeting had lasted just a few minutes with media representatives given absolutely no time to express their objections to the bill.
“Committee Chair, Senator Faisal Rahman from Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf pushed for the bill to be voted on today (Monday), hearing only that the committee members had approved the bill in affirmation and then abruptly left the meeting,” Khilji said.
‘All opposition members voted for the bill in unison’
Senior journalist Munizae Jahangir, who was also present in the standing committee meeting, expressed her shock at the hurried approval of the bill without any debate or consultation with stakeholders.
She said she was surprised that the opposition members including PTI Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman and ANP Senator Umer Farooq acted in unison with treasury members to approve the PECA amendment bill.
“Members of the standing committee seemed helpless because actually there were clear ‘instructions’ to pass the bill,” she added.
Kamran Murtaza questions haste in approving bill
Senator Kamran Murtaza of Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam (JUI) who was a special invitee to the meeting, questioned why the PECA Amendment bill was being approved quickly.
“In such a short time, you cannot even go through a reading of the proposed law let alone hold any meaningful consultation,” he told his fellow committee members.
Senator Murtaza pointed out that there were flaws in the bill.
“There is no definition of fake news in the bill,” he said. “Also how will it be decided what is fake news?” he questioned. ”
A draft of amendments proposed by Senator Murtaza was also not taken up by the committee.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui said they principally agreed with the spirit of the bill as the malaise of fake news on social media needed to be treated. Regrettably, he added, that the journalists should have been consulted before the passage of the bill in the National Assembly. “If the law turns against journalists, we will stand with journalists,” he added.
Bill was approved without amendments
Senate officials confirmed that the standing committee approved the PECA Amendment Bill and the committee report on the bill would be presented in Senate in coming days.
The officials said the standing committee approved the bill as passed by the National Assembly and no amendments were recommended by it.
The meeting was attended by Senators Palwasha Muhammad Zai Khan, Shahadat Awan, Irfan-ul-Haq Siddiqui, Umar Farooq, Mir Dostain Khan Domki, Kamran Murtaza (Special Invitee), and Naseema Ehsan, along with the Secretary of the Ministry of Interior and senior officials from the Ministries of Interior and Law.
Journalists stage walkout in protest
Later, the journalists and the opposition staged a walkout from the senate session on the approval of PECA amendment bill.
Speaking on the floor of the house, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the PECA amendment bill was on the agenda of today’s session and the protest was uncalled for. He said the opposition PTI was head of the standing committee that approved the PECA amendment bill. According to media representatives, the cybercrime amendment bill is a clear violation of fundamental right to fair trial and free.
The proposed law was open to broad misuse and would target journalists, dissidents, and human rights activists.
PFUJ calls for nationwide protest tomorrow
In a statement, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists have announced a countrywide protest at 3.00 PM tomorrow (January 28).
“We had appealed to the government of Pakistan and elected representatives to consult all stakeholders before approving the PECA amendment bill from the Senate Committee on Interior but our appeal was ignored,” reads the statement.
The media body said it rejected the amendment bill as it is against the spirit of the constitution.
“Therefore, the PFUJ urges and appeals to all Union of Journalists (UJs) to organize strong protests at 3 PM tomorrow (Tuesday) at their respective press clubs, demonstrating unity and sending a strong message of rejection to the government and authorities behind these amendments,” The PFUJ said in its statement.
JAC supports PFUJ strike call
In a separate statement, the media Joint Action Committee (JAC) has announced its participation in the protest by supporting the PFUJ’s nationwide protest against the PECA Amendment Bill.
The journalists’ JAC said that despite repeated assurances from the government of consultation, the bill was passed in a hurry first by the National Assembly and then by the Senate Standing Committee without listening to journalist organizations and stakeholders, which was clear proof of the government’s bad intentions.
The committee completely rejected the amendment bill and said it would wage a vigorous public and legal struggle against it, saying it was in touch with civil society, human rights organizations, advocacy organizations and other stakeholders.
“Consultations with legal experts are being finalized to challenge the PECA Act Amendment Bill in court,” the JAC said. All journalist organizations included in the Joint Action Committee would participate fully in the PFUJ’s nationwide protest, it said.
Anchors reject PECA amendment bill
Likewise the Anchors’ Association also held a separate press conference along with PTI leaders outside the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa House in Islamabad to condemn the approval of the PECA amendment bill.
PTI issues show-cause to Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman
Speaking at the conference, Barrister Gohar Khan told reporters that none of the PTI senators supported the PECA amendment bill, adding that the party had issued a show cause to Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman to explain why he supported the bill in the standing committee on Interior of which he was the chairperson.