Islamabad, January 27, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has declared nationwide protests for tomorrow, January 28, against the controversial amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
At a press conference, PFUJ President Afzal Butt, accompanied by representatives from the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) and the National Press Club, expressed strong opposition to the amendments. He commended the media for attending the press conference on short notice and emphasized the union’s unified stance against what he called a “draconian” law.
“We categorically reject the PECA law and will hold protests across the country tomorrow,” Butt declared. “Journalists will stage rallies, marches, and demonstrations to voice their opposition.”
The PFUJ president accused the government of using coercive tactics to suppress the media and undermine press freedom. He announced the launch of a “Freedom of the Press Movement” starting on Tuesday, with plans to involve the legal community, civil society, the Human Rights Commission, and other sectors in the campaign for press freedom.
Butt added that the second phase of the movement would involve trade unions, and if their demands continued to be ignored, they would convene an All-Parties Conference (APC) inviting political parties from across Pakistan, including Balochistan, KP, and Sindh. He made it clear that the ultimate goal of the movement would be a sit-in outside the Parliament, with its duration determined by the repeal of the PECA law.
“We will announce the start date of the sit-in outside Parliament, and its conclusion will depend on the law being repealed,” Butt asserted. “On that day, we will also call on overseas Pakistanis to hold protests in their respective countries to amplify our cause on the global stage.”
The PFUJ’s move highlights the growing tension between media organizations and the government over the controversial amendments, with journalists nationwide preparing to unite in their demand for greater press freedoms.
