ISLAMABAD: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has raised serious concerns about the recent amendments to Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), claiming the changes will stifle free speech rather than combat disinformation, as the government asserts.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the global media watchdog called for the repeal of the amendments, emphasizing that the PECA, passed in 2016, already posed significant threats to journalists. The amendments, RSF stated, only further exacerbate these risks.
The statement highlighted that PECA has been used in the past to arrest dozens of journalists critical of the government, and now its “repressive role” has been reinforced. RSF criticized the new law as a move to take censorship to unprecedented levels under the pretext of tackling disinformation.
The amendments introduce a vague definition of “false” and “prohibited content,” giving authorities a powerful tool to block information. Célia Mercier, head of RSF’s South Asia Desk, explained that the law now defines prohibited content as anything “against the ideology of Pakistan” or that “coerces or intimidates” individuals, including public figures like members of the judiciary, armed forces, and parliament.
Under the amended law, content considered “fake” or “false” can result in up to three years in prison, with suspects potentially arrested without a warrant. The law also allows anyone, not just directly affected individuals, to file complaints.
RSF also raised concerns over the establishment of a “government-controlled regulatory authority” under the law, which would replace the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and be staffed with government appointees.
The watchdog urged the government to repeal the amendments, calling them a “dangerous tool” for silencing critics and controlling information, emphasizing that the public’s right to access diverse sources of information must be upheld.
In Pakistan, journalists have been protesting the amendments, with several legal challenges being filed against the changes. On Tuesday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) heard petitions from news anchors and a faction of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). During the hearing, petitioners argued that the amendments were passed hastily, with numerous errors, including contradictions in definitions and duplication of existing regulatory authorities. The petitioners also claimed that the amendments violate constitutional rights to freedom of expression and access to information.
The court is considering whether to regulate the publication of fake news, acknowledging the complexities of tackling misinformation. The petitioners also pointed out that the amended law restricts appeals to the Supreme Court only, bypassing standard legal procedures.
In response to the amendments, the PFUJ has announced a countrywide hunger strike from February 12 to 14. Protests will take place at various locations, including the Karachi Press Club and the National Press Club in Islamabad. Similar protests are planned in Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, and Multan.
