Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari has decided to delay signing the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Amendment Bill following protests and concerns raised by journalists and media organizations. The Parliamentary Reporter Association (PRA), through Maulana Fazlur Rehman, voiced strong opposition to the bill, urging the President to hold off on signing it until journalists’ concerns are fully addressed.
In response, Zardari agreed to postpone the signing of the bill, with sources indicating that discussions are underway between the Federal Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, and journalist groups. A meeting between Naqvi and the PRA is also expected soon to address the issue. The delay has been welcomed by many in the media industry, who have expressed their concerns about the potential negative impact of the amendments on press freedom.
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The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), despite its initial support for the bill, has also expressed regret over the lack of consultation with journalists. PPP Vice President Sherry Rehman and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari have both voiced their concerns, stating that it would have been better if media organizations had been consulted in the process to forge a consensus.
Meanwhile, the PECA Amendment Bill, which aims to tackle fake news and online crimes, has been met with strong opposition from various media bodies and civil society groups. Critics argue that the law could be used to suppress freedom of expression and press freedom, while the government maintains it is necessary to combat disinformation and cybercrime.
