Why Pakistan's controversial Peca bill has caused a firestorm: 'Will suppress freedom of speech'

The approval on Tuesday by the Senate removes the last obstacle in the bill's path. It will now be sent to the President Asif Ali Zardari, who is likely to sign it quickly. (Image: AP)

On Tuesday, the Senate passed contentious amendments to the country’s cybercrime legislation — the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016 — amidst protests from the opposition and a walkout by journalists from the press gallery, Dawn reported.

The Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduces Section 26(A) to Peca, which aims to penalize individuals for spreading “fake news” online. According to the amendment, anyone who deliberately spreads, displays, or transmits false information that could incite fear, panic, or unrest in society may face up to three years in prison, a fine of up to Rs2 million, or both.

With the Senate's approval, the bill now heads to President Asif Ali Zardari, who is expected to sign it into law.

The bill was presented in the Senate by Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain on behalf of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

The bill's passage has sparked opposition protests, with critics arguing it was rushed through without proper consultation. Shibli Faraz, an opposition leader in the Senate, expressed concerns over the lack of stakeholder involvement, reported AP.

Zulfiqar Bukhari, a spokesperson for former Prime Minister Imran Khan, stated that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party plans to challenge the legislation in court. "The bill has been passed by both houses of parliament under the guise of combating fake news, but its real purpose is to stifle freedom of expression. No supporter of democracy can endorse this," he said in a statement.

Pakistan's media has faced increasing censorship in recent years. However, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government defends the law, arguing it is necessary to combat the spread of disinformation.

According to the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, the bill aims to "modernize the legislative framework for combating cybercrimes in Pakistan." The interior secretary stated that the bill was drafted in good faith, intending to "protect the general public" and enhance the effectiveness of the existing law to safeguard people’s rights.

Following the committee's approval, the bill now requires a Senate vote before being sent to the president for final approval.

Section 26A of the amended law defines the offense as the dissemination of information that an individual "knows or has reason to believe" is false or fake and is likely to incite fear, panic, disorder, or unrest among the public.

The Senate session was adjourned indefinitely.

The passage of the Peca bill follows the introduction of other key legislation related to Pakistan's digital landscape.

Last week, the National Assembly approved the 'Digital Nation Pakistan Bill, 2024,' presented by Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja.

The bill seeks to establish a digital identity for citizens, centralize social, economic, and governance data, and drive the transformation of Pakistan into a digital nation, fostering a digital society, economy, and governance.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) announced a nationwide protest today at 3 p.m. In a press release, the PFUJ condemned the government for bypassing consultations with stakeholders before approving the amendments in the Senate. "We reject these amendments, as they go against the spirit of the Constitution," the statement declared.

The PFUJ urged all journalist unions to hold protests at 3 p.m. at their respective press clubs, stressing the need for unity and sending a strong message of opposition to the government and those responsible for the amendments.

Dawn News quoted senior journalist Wusatullah Khan as saying, “Journalists should have taken notice of the bill earlier, as it had been under discussion for the past couple of months, with leaks about it as well.”