Islamabad, January 28, 2025: Journalists across Pakistan staged protests against the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Amendment Bill 2025, calling for its immediate repeal. Demonstrations were held in major cities, including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and Quetta, with participants condemning the legislation as an attack on press freedom.
In Islamabad, journalists gathered outside the Press Club, chanting slogans against the government and rejecting the PECA legislation. The protest extended into a march on the city’s main roads, with banners displayed prominently.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) led the protests, with PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari addressing the crowds. The demonstration was supported by senior media figures, civil society representatives, and prominent journalists, including Asma Shirazi and Mazhar Abbas.
Speaking at the protest in Lahore, PFUJ Secretary General and Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari labeled the PECA bill as a “draconian attempt to suppress press freedom.”
“This legislation has been imposed without consulting the journalist community. We warn the government against silencing our voices,” he said.
Ansari pledged to challenge the law in court after consulting the Joint Action Committee and warned of disruptions in parliamentary proceedings if the government ignored their demands.
In Karachi, PFUJ organized a demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club, where journalists voiced their concerns over the bill’s implications on freedom of speech and press autonomy.
Protesters carried placards and banners rejecting the PECA Amendment Act, calling it a direct assault on democracy and the role of free media. Across all cities, participants called on the government to repeal the law and hold consultations with stakeholders before introducing such legislation.
The protests have highlighted growing concerns among journalists and civil society about the potential misuse of PECA, with critics warning it could be used to stifle dissent and silence critical voices.Bottom of Form
