ISLAMABAD: Nationwide protests erupted across Pakistan on Monday, as journalists rallied against the controversial amendment to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
As per the details, the amendment, which was passed by both the National Assembly and the Senate, has been widely condemned by journalists and civil society groups who see it as a severe blow to freedom of expression and journalism.
The protests, called by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), saw large gatherings outside press clubs in major cities including Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta, Hyderabad and Sukkur. Journalists carried banners and placards condemning the amendment and vowed to continue their protests until the bill was repealed.
The Senate’s approval of the amendment followed its approval in the National Assembly on Thursday. The swift passage drew angry reactions from opposition members of parliament, who tore up copies of the agenda during the protest. Journalists walked out of the press gallery in protest.
The bill was referred to a standing committee by the Senate chairman before its approval in the Senate. Various journalistic organizations issued separate statements condemning the amendment. The Joint Action Committee (JAC), representing groups including the PFUJ and the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), issued a joint statement strongly criticizing the changes.
Protesters across the country condemned the amendment, calling it an attack on press freedom. In Karachi, a large number of journalists, as well as representatives of civil society, labor unions, lawyers, and political parties, participated in the demonstration. A similar protest was also held outside the Punjab Assembly in Lahore, which was attended by the Punjab Union of Journalists and other organizations. Protesters in Lahore also claimed that the amendment was passed illegally.
A protest was also held outside the National Press Club in Islamabad, where speakers criticized the amendment for tightening cybercrime laws and argued that it could be used to suppress criticism of the government. Journalists from smaller cities including Quetta, Faisalabad, and Bahawalpur also participated in the demonstrations. Across the board, the amendment was condemned as an attack on press freedom. Journalists are demanding the bill’s immediate withdrawal.
