She urges the government to scrap the PECA and NCCIA and begin genuine consultations to draft laws protecting journalists.
Journalist Benazir Shah was targeted in a deepfake video distributed by an X account, followed by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. Shah condemned the incident on X, saying such attacks would not silence her.
Responding quickly, Minister Tarar called the act “totally unacceptable and highly condemnable” and said action would be taken. He added that no one has the right to create fake videos to harass or defame journalists and clarified that he does not condone the behavior of the account in question.
PECA, promulgated in 2016, aims to combat cybercrime, online harassment and the dissemination of illegal digital content. However, critics say the law has often been misused to target journalists, activists and political opponents, raising concerns about freedom of expression and digital rights in Pakistan.
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I appreciate that the Minister of Information is taking this issue seriously.
However, I do not wish to pursue a PECA case through the NCCIA, as it would lend legitimacy to a law and institution that has been used to harass journalists, silence private citizens, and repress…
– Benazir Shah (@Benazir_Shah) November 17, 2025
Shah welcomed the minister’s response, but made it clear that she would not file a complaint under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) through the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). She argued that using the law and the agency would lend legitimacy to an institution that has often been used to harass journalists, silence citizens and suppress dissent.
She urged the government to scrap PECA and NCCIA and launch a genuine consultation process to draft legislation addressing the safety of journalists. Shah reiterated his resilience by saying #AttacksWontSilenceUs.
