ISLAMABAD: Dominique Pradalie, President of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), has urged the Pakistani government to repeal the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) following recent amendments, The News reported Saturday.
In a post on social media platform X, Pradalie highlighted discussions at the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Congress in Islamabad, where concerns over PECA were raised.
Retweeting a PFUJ member’s post, she wrote: “At the PFUJ congress in Islamabad, we asked for the abolition of PECA law, which seriously endangers journalism in Pakistan.”
The amendments, intended to regulate information dissemination, have reduced the prison sentence for “intentionally disseminating false and fake information” from seven years to three. They also introduce new definitions, regulatory bodies, and stricter penalties for spreading “false” information.
The revised law has faced backlash from political leaders, journalists, and legal experts, with multiple court challenges underway. The IFJ’s condemnation coincides with nationwide protests by journalists who argue the law threatens press freedom.
During a hunger strike camp outside Islamabad’s National Press Club, PFUJ President Afzal Butt announced plans to call an all-party conference (APC) against PECA. “Our final step will be a sit-in at Parliament with no return date,” he warned.
In Lahore, Press Club President Arshad Ansari vowed protests would continue until PECA is abolished, stating, “The government is making law upon law to suppress the truth.”
The IFJ, along with other journalist organizations, has consistently criticized PECA. In a statement last month, the IFJ condemned the amendments as an attempt to tighten control over digital expression and internet freedom under the pretense of combating misinformation.
“By extending government oversight online, expanding censorship powers, and imposing penalties for vaguely defined offenses, this legislation threatens journalists, activists, and the public’s right to information,” the statement read.
Previously, the IFJ urged President Asif Ali Zardari to reject the bill, emphasizing its impact on press freedom and democratic discourse.
