Shibli Faraz Criticizes Bill, Cites Flawed Process and Lack of Oversight
Senate Passes PECA Amendment Bill Amid Opposition Protest. The Senate has approved the amended version of the Prevention Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) after its passage in the National Assembly.
During the approval of the bill, the opposition strongly opposed it and staged a protest, while journalists walked out of the Senate session in protest.
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and PTI leader Shibli Faraz stated that his party does not support the bill. He acknowledged the Minister’s point that spreading false news should not be supported, but argued that the process of the bill was flawed, as there is no institution, judge, or lawyer to handle the cases it addresses.
JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza pointed out that his amendments to the PECA Act had neither been approved nor rejected by the committee, calling the report from the Standing Committee incomplete.
After the bill’s approval, PFUJ President Afzal Butt spoke with a private news channel, stating that journalists across the country are observing a “Black Day” in protest. He added that the bill would be challenged in court, with discussions underway with lawyers, and that they would pressure the government to consult with them on the matter.
What does the amended PECA Act define as illegal content?
According to the amended bill, the authority will consist of nine members, including the Secretary of the Interior, Chairman PTA, and Chairman PEMRA, who will serve as ex-officio members. The Chairman of the authority will be appointed for five years, with a bachelor’s degree and at least 15 years of relevant experience.
The government has also decided to include journalists in the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority. Among the five members, one will be a journalist with 10 years of experience, and a software engineer will also be part of the team. Additionally, a lawyer, a social media professional, and an IT expert from the private sector will be included in the authority.
It is noteworthy that the Senate’s Interior Committee had approved the amended PECA Bill the day before, while the National Assembly had already passed the bill earlier.
