The Senate Standing Committee on Home Affairs on Monday passed the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025 by a majority vote, while the opposition and journalists sharply criticized the changes in the country’s cybercrime laws.
The National Assembly rushed controversial amendments to the country’s cybercrime laws last week amid protests, with PTI lawmakers and journalists abandoning the process. PPP members expressed their support during the vote. The bill is now in the Senate after being referred to the standing committee on the interior.
The invoice, a copy of which is available with dawn.comproposes to Peca a new provision, Section 26(A), to penalize authors of online “fake news.” It said that anyone who intentionally spreads, displays or transmits false information that may cause fear, panic or unrest in society may face up to three years in prison, a fine of up to Rs 2 million, or both.
According to a report released today by Senator Faisal Rehman, Chairman, Senate Standing Committee on Home Affairs, the bill was discussed by Senators Shahadat Awan, Palwasha Khan, Dostain Khan Domki, Irfan Siddiqui, Naeema Ahsan and Umer Farooq, while Senator Karman Murtaza attended as a special guest.
According to the report, the bill “primarily seeks to modernize… the legislative framework to combat cybercrime in Pakistan,” while the home secretary emphasized that the bill was drafted in good faith and aimed to “protect to the general public… and make the -Act in the field more effectively to protect people’s rights.”
According to the report, Senator Siddiqui of the PML-N said he agreed with the intention behind the amendment bill, while Rehman raised reservations over the proposed amendments and argued that they circumvented freedom of expression, adding that they were hastily made. and that he against them according to PTI policy.
“After detailed discussion, the bill was put to a committee vote, which was approved by a majority vote,” the report said, adding that the committee recommended that the bill be approved by the Senate.
Meanwhile, a press release issued by the Senate said Rehman emphasized the committee’s willingness to provide constructive suggestions to the government to facilitate improvement.
“The committee members unanimously agreed on the need for a strong law to prevent electronic crimes and ensure its strict compliance. They highlighted that existing laws addressing issues such as pornography, child protection and hate speech lack clear definitions.
“Members agreed that the bill is of utmost importance as trolling and abuse are widespread issues that must be limited. After extensive discussion, the committee unanimously resolved to cooperate to refine the proposed law and make meaningful recommendations.”
Journalists express concern and attack the government
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) president Afzal Butt attacked Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi over the Peca amendment while addressing a press conference in Islamabad. “This is a very big crime,” he said.
Butt said that according to the Ministry of Information, it wanted to consult stakeholders before introducing the bill in the Senate, but we want to consult you.
Afzal added that the ministry invited the PFUJ for consultations where the group questioned the addition of more than 50 amended sections in the amendment bill.
“We have decided that all bodies of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) will approach their lawyers and review the bill point by point with the government,” Afzal announced, requesting a week for the initiative.
“JAC gave the committee chairman a letter demanding that journalists’ bodies be consulted before passing legislation.
“We are not opposed to the rules and regulations, we just want to be heard,” Afzal said.
“Instead of passing the bill today, schedule another committee meeting. JAC will deliver its contributions point by point.”
Afzal noted that the bill would affect “the future of Pakistan’s youth.”
Meanwhile, in a letter to Senator Rehman, the Presenters Association said journalists and ordinary citizens had reservations regarding the intent of the bill, suggesting that the law “is more about intimidation, harassment and victimization of critical voices on social media than for any improvement. of society.”
While criticizing the bill for the speed with which it was passed through parliament, the association also highlighted three of its main concerns about the legislation.
“We believe that three basic assumptions have been ignored in formulating this controversial legislation. Firstly, because it will directly affect the right to speak and express one’s opinion, so the social aspect has been totally ignored,” the letter reads.
“Secondly, the State is supposed to ensure freedom of expression under Article 19 of the Constitution…by creating an enabling environment for every citizen where he can fully express his opinion without fear of intimidation, while the proposed legislation “It is like a hanging sword and will cause a serious sense of harassment and fear in society.”
The letter adds that, thirdly, the bill equates fake news with other heinous crimes and would affect “millions of Pakistanis who use social media or any other information system.” Additionally, the letter requested that a distinction be made between the use of social media for fake news and much more serious crimes, such as personal threats and pornography.
The Anchors Association said it was open to consultation with the government before passing the legislation.
“We hope that, being a responsible State, there will be confidence in the interested parties and that such a project will be approved for the final legislation that will have the common purpose of having a mature and responsible social media instead of harassing and scrutinizing the Pakistani citizens due to their socio-political opinion and its manifestation on social networks,” the letter reads.
Regulate fake news, but don’t censor: PTI’s Ali Zafar
Addressing a press conference outside Parliament, PTI Senator Ali Zafar said the party stands in solidarity with journalists and human rights groups against the Peca amendments, adding that all stakeholders should have been consulted beforehand. before the bill was introduced in parliament.
“Our demand was clear and simple: that the government listen to all stakeholders and then make a decision on whether to approve the amendment or not,” he said. “However, we were not given the opportunity and had no choice but to leave in solidarity with our media and journalists.”
The senator acknowledged that “fake news” was a genuine problem and added that he and his party were in favor of regulation against it, but were firmly against any censorship.
“In trying to regulate it (fake news), you cannot censor the media,” Zafar said. “Fake news has been defined so broadly in this bill that if I were to speak against any institution or legislator, then they could label it as fake news and it would be a punishable offense.
“The Peca amendments are, in our opinion and in that of journalists and human rights organizations, unconstitutional and undemocratic. The people who approved this do not want us to have freedom of expression,” he said, adding that there is no such definition of fake news in any other country in the world.
Zafar added that the opposition is also not allowed to debate the law in parliament. “I demand the government and the vice president of the Senate to form a joint committee with equal representation and that all stakeholders be present,” he said.
“That committee should provide suggestions to the Senate Interior Committee to consider our input. “This is how you legislate,” he added, warning that if this committee was not formed, the opposition would once again withdraw in solidarity with the media.
“We are absolutely against fake news, they are very harmful and we are in favor of regulating them. But we are against censorship,” Zafar said. “We are protesting because this is against all Pakistanis, not just the PTI. “There must be a balance.”
Additional reporting by Nadir Guramani.
