March 29, 2025
By Aitzaz Ibrahim & Rana Malhi
LAHORE
Coordinated protest demonstrations were held in major cities across Pakistan on Saturday, in response to the call by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) against the increasing pressure on journalists in Pakistan, arrests under the PECA law, and non-payment of salaries to media workers.
Journalists in large numbers took to the streets in various cities including Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi, raising their voices in support of freedom of the press. They were flanked by civil society activists and human rights organizations who also joined the protests alongside journalists, strongly condemning government policies that restrict press freedom.
Arshad Ansari, Secretary General of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, who participated in the protest outside the Lahore Press Club, said the journalists would announce a sit-in outside the Parliament after Eid holidays to call for repeal of the draconian PECA law.
“After Eid, PFUJ, along with all journalist organizations, will hold a protest demonstration outside the Parliament against the PECA Act,” said Arshad Ansari. “If the law is not withdrawn, a sit-in will be held at D Chowk.”
Munizae Jahangir, Co-Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and senior journalist, also joined the protest in Lahore.
She described actions against press freedom as serious violations of human rights.
“Police are using the PECA law to file false cases against journalists,” she told Voicepk.
Islamabad & Karachi
A protest was also held at the National Press Club in Islamabad, where senior journalist Nasir Zaidi said the PFUJ had already warned the government about the misuse of the PECA law when it was being enacted.
In Karachi, journalists also held a powerful protest outside the Karachi Press Club. The main demand of the journalist community was once again reiterated during these demonstrations: an immediate withdrawal of the PECA Amendment Act, and the cases filed against journalists under this Act should also be terminated.
“One after the other there are cases being registered against journalists under the PECA Act,” said Tahir Hasan Khan, the President of Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ). “They are being arrested from their homes, and booked for something they posted. This is highly condemnable. Not only are journalists being targeted by this PECA Act, even the general public is falling victim to it. This black law should be repealed at once.”
The protests highlight the growing concerns over press freedom in Pakistan, particularly following amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The journalist community has been facing increasing challenges. The PECA law has been used to target journalists, allowing for arrests and legal proceedings against media professionals for their reporting.
Many media workers have been facing financial difficulties due to non-payment of salaries, adding economic pressure to the already challenging environment for journalism. The protesters are calling for immediate withdrawal of the PECA Amendment Act and dismissal of all cases filed against journalists under this legislation, which they see as tools to suppress free media and critical reporting in the country.
Quetta
Meanwhile in Quetta a protest could not be held because of the growing political unrest in the region. However the Supreme Court Bar Association President, Rauf Atta, expressed his solidarity with the journalists’ protests and declared that the ‘Black Law’ must be immediately repealed.
(Additional reporting by Ahmed Saeed in Lahore, & Shokat Korai in Karachi)