On Thursday, the National Assembly passed the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 amidst a walkout by opposition parties and without any dissent. The amendment substantially changes the current law and has faced backlash from multiple journalism groups.
Arshad Ansari, Secretary General of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), while speaking to the local news channel Geo News, expressed the journalists’ intent to challenge the changes legally. He also announced plans for protests and a boycott of assembly sessions in response to the legislation.
Federal Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain presented the bill, which was approved within minutes. The revised “Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025” integrates new definitions and establishes regulatory and investigative bodies. It also imposes stricter penalties for the dissemination of “false” information.
Read: PML-N Proposes Amendments to PECA for Stricter Social Media Regulation
The government proposes to reduce the punishment for spreading “fake information” online to a maximum of three years in prison, alongside a potential fine of up to Rs2 million. Section 26A of the bill specifies, “Whoever intentionally disseminates, publicly exhibits, or transmits any information through any information system that he knows or has reason to believe to be false and likely to cause fear, panic, or disorder in the public or society shall face imprisonment up to three years, a fine up to two million rupees, or both.”
The bill was approved by the parliament’s lower house mere hours after various journalist organizations such as the PFUJ, the Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors, the All Pakistan Newspapers Society, the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors, and the Pakistan Broadcasters Association publicly opposed the proposed amendments.
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