Different political parties’ leadership have opposed the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025, passed by the National Assembly on January 23.
On January 26, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan opposed the amendments, expressing grave concerns over press freedom and the lack of consultations. Addressing a press conference in Karachi, JI Emir Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, while acknowledging the need to combat fake news, stressed that efforts must not come at the cost of press freedom. Hafiz Naeem called for a balanced approach to ensure accountability without infringing fundamental rights.
The JI leader expressed solidarity with journalists and called for inclusive consultations.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator and former Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani criticized the amendments, stating they threaten freedom of expression.
“The bill will further scuttle freedom of expression by setting up authorities under executive control,” Rabbani said, adding: “Joint Investigation Teams including members of unnamed intelligence agencies will be formed to watch over journalists, social media, and the general public.”
The PPP senator condemned the government’s failure to consult stakeholders before passing the bill. He described the process as a breach of commitments to media bodies and said the speed with which the bill was passed in the National Assembly was “demeaning to the parliamentary process of legislation.”
“The government can still make amendments by inviting the relevant stakeholders before the Standing Committee of the Senate when the bill is laid in that house,” he added.
PPP Human Rights Cell President Farhatullah Babar criticized the amendments, saying: “This would [enlarge] the footprint of unaccountable intelligence agencies and [give] sweeping powers to the executive not only over the contents of the message but also the messengers, namely the social media platforms.”
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Ali Zafar also voiced strong opposition to the amendments, arguing that they presented a new interpretation of “fake news” that could stifle free speech and eliminate healthy democratic debate. “Freedom of expression is the soul of a democratic system, and this act effectively bans it,” Zafar stated.
Zafar criticized the consolidation of investigative powers under the executive, saying, “The amendments made to the PECA law are a violation of the constitution. By placing its own people in the authority, the government has compromised the independence of the process.” He called for the formation of a joint parliamentary committee to review the bill and ensure broad consultations with stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the government has defended the legislation. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, while visiting the National Assembly press gallery, made a distinction between what he said were working journalists — registered with a press club — and social media users. He added that existing systems through PEMRA’s council would continue to govern the mainstream media.
“This legislation targets those who just pull out their phones and say whatever they wish,” he said.
