Islamabad (Web Desk): A nationwide protest was staged on Friday by journalists and media organizations under the Joint Action Committee (JAC) in response to the recent amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016.
As a symbol of their opposition, black flags were raised at press clubs and union offices across the country, while journalists wore black armbands to express their disapproval.
The controversial amendments, which were swiftly passed through both houses of Parliament and then signed into law by President Zardari on Wednesday, have stirred uproar.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), along with several other media groups such as the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), All Pakistan Newspapers Society, Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), and Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND), organized the protests. Their key grievance is that the amendments were approved without consulting the media community or other relevant stakeholders.
In Karachi, protests were held outside the Karachi Press Club, with politicians, legal professionals, and journalists voicing their concerns about the amendments.
Former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani criticized the changes, asserting that they represent a troubling trend towards curbing democratic practices and open debate in Pakistan.
During the protest, journalists raised black flags and called on the government to retract the legislation.
In a post on his social media handle X, senior journalist Hamid Mir revealed that a large coalition of media organizations, human rights advocates, and lawyers had been formed to challenge the new law, which they view as a direct assault on free speech.
Speaking at a demonstration in Islamabad, PFUJ President Afzal Butt praised the nationwide protests, emphasizing the importance of resisting any attempts to undermine press freedom.
He warned the government that if it thought the media was weakening, it needed to look back at the history of the struggle for press freedom in Pakistan, including the dark days of military rule under General Ziaul Haq.
Butt made it clear that the issue at stake was a fundamental one: the right to freedom of expression.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar responded to the protests, saying the government was open to discussions on the controversial aspects of the new cybercrime laws.
He suggested that the media bodies could engage with the government to address specific concerns, stressing that legal reforms are always open to review.
The amendments introduce several key provisions, including more stringent penalties for the dissemination of "false" or "fake" information online.
Under the new law, spreading false information can result in up to three years of imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs2 million.
The law also creates new regulatory bodies such as the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA) and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), which are tasked with overseeing online content and investigating cybercrimes.
Additionally, the amendments grant these bodies the authority to swiftly remove or block content deemed harmful or false, with a specific focus on content that could incite panic or unrest.
The law empowers these bodies to regulate social media platforms and to demand that they comply with local rules, potentially leading to further restrictions on digital platforms.
While the government says it is ready to engage in dialogue, critics argue that the real intention behind the amendments is to tighten control over the digital space, silencing opposition and limiting free expression.
The newly established Social Media Protection Tribunals are also seen as a way to expedite cases related to cybercrimes, though questions remain about their potential for misuse.
As protests continue across the country, the future of the PECA amendments remains uncertain, with many fearing that they will be used to suppress free speech rather than protect citizens from harmful online content.
