Islamabad:
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of media organizations has drafted a letter to the Senate Interior Committee, expressing reservations over the proposed amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (PECA).
In the letter addressed to the Committee Chairman, Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman, JAC noted that the amendments to be introduced by the PECA (Amendment) Bill, 2025 may have significant implications for press freedom and freedom of expression.
These changes, he said, were introduced without any consultation or discussion with relevant stakeholders, including the media and journalists’ organizations.
He said JAC – a representative body of all media organizations: PFUJ, CPNE, Aemend, APNS and PBA – is not against the enactment of laws that regulate the media in a manner consistent with democratic standards.
“However, the process by which this amendment is being brought forward – hastily and without meaningful engagement with stakeholders – contributes to the principles of fairness and the spirit of democracy.
“Such an approach erodes trust and raises serious concerns about the intent behind the bill, particularly its impact on constitutionally guaranteed rights such as freedom of expression and freedom of the press.”
JAC said legislation of such importance must be shaped through a transparent participatory process, ensuring that the concerns, objections and suggestions of all stakeholders are taken into account.
“The passage of this law in its present form, without resolving these issues, will inevitably be seen as an attempt to stifle dissent and curtail the freedoms that are guaranteed under the Constitution of Pakistan, which is neither acceptable nor justifiable in a democratic society.
JAC urged the committee chairman to give JAC representatives a hearing before the committee debates the amendment bill. “We would like to express our serious concerns about certain aspects of this bill which seriously hamper freedom of expression,” he added.
