IFJ president slams amended Peca law amid journalists' countrywide protests

KARACHI: Dominique Pradalie, the president of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), has called for the repeal of the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) law, following recent amendments introduced by the government of Pakistan, The News reported on Saturday. 

In a post on social media platform X on Thursday, Pradalie highlighted her presence at the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Congress in Islamabad, where the issue was discussed.

She retweeted a post by a PFUJ member and wrote: "At the PFUJ congress in Islamabad, we asked for abolition of Peca law endangering seriously the journalism in Pakistan".

The amendments, aimed at regulating 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 harsher penalties for spreading "false" information.

The amended Peca law has been criticised by numerous political leaders, journalists and experts, and has been challenged in several different courts across the country.

Additionally, the IFJ's criticism of the amended Peca law comes amid ongoing countrywide protests by journalists over the controversial amendments which they claim threatens press freedom.

During a hunger strike camp outside Islamabad's National Press Club, PFUJ President Afzal Butt said: "We will also call an all-party conference (APC) against Peca law. The last call will be for a sit-in at Parliament with no return date."

In a separate hunger strike camp outside Lahore Press Club, its President Arshad Ansari said that the protest against Peca law "will continue until the end of this law".

"The government is making law upon law to suppress the truth."

The global journalism body has previously joined in with other journalists' organisations in critiquing the Peca law and the amendments to it.

In its statement last month, the IFJ said: "The amendments to Pakistan's draconian PECA represent a transparent attempt to further tighten control over digital expression and internet freedom under the guise of curbing misinformation.

"By extending government jurisdiction online, broadening censorship powers, and imposing penalties for vaguely defined offences, this legislation threatens journalists, activists, and the public's right to information". 

The IFJ, the largest global union federation of journalists' trade unions, had asked President Asif Ali Zardari to reject the bill at the time.

Balochistan High Court moved against Peca law tweaks

The Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ), Balochistan Bar Council, and the Human Rights Commission on Saturday filed a petition challenging the controversial Peca law tweaks in the Balochistan High Court.

In their petition, the three bodies argued that it infringes upon the fundamental constitutional rights of citizens and contravenes human rights standards.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has responded by issuing notices to the Ministry of Law, the Ministry of Information, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) regarding the petitions put forth by the PFUJ and others against the amended Peca law, seeking a response within two weeks.

The court has also called upon the attorney general for assistance.