The Pakistani government has triggered uproar amongst journalists and media content creators after it introduced draconian new laws outlawing criticism of the government or military on social media.
On Wednesday the Pakistani President, Asif Ali Zardari, gave his formal assent to controversial amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
First introduced in 2016, PECA deals with the country’s laws on cybercrime. Under the new law, anyone viewed as criticising the government or the military will face up to three years in jail, and a fine of up to two million rupees ($7,168), or both.
Whilst Amnesty International and other international rights bodies have criticised the latest measures to curb freedom of speech in Pakistan, the government insists that the new law is aimed at countering “fake news.”
The contentious amendments to the law governing electronic media were rubber-stamped by both the National Assembly and the Senate last week, with little debate or consultation with the public or the professional bodies whose members it will directly affect.
‘Attack on freedom of expression’
Journalists and rights groups held nationwide protest rallies on Tuesday, calling the new legislation a “black law” and an “attack on freedom of expression” in the country and yet another attempt to silence critics of the government.
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“We totally reject the legislation, which is aimed at stifling the freedom of speech and the voice of dissent in the name of ‘fake news’,” said Sohail Afzal, the secretary of Karachi Press Club.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, he said that the journalist bodies themselves are against the dissemination of fake news, and that it was unnecessary to introduce new legislation as the existing laws are “enough to deal with such issues.”
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ has roundly condemned the latest changes in the law. “The amendments to PECA 2025 are a blatant attack on press freedom and a clear attempt to silence dissent”, said Afzal Butt, the President of PFUJ.
“The government passed these draconian changes without any consultation, proving once again that it has no regard for democratic values. We reject this oppressive law outright and will resist it at every level. Our movement has already begun, and if necessary, we will take our protest to the gates of Parliament House.”

Human rights activists and journalists in Pakistan contacted by 5Pillars have also voiced their opposition and deep concern over the new anti-media law pushed through Parliament.
“This law is nothing more than a tool to intimidate journalists and suppress the truth,” said Shafqat Ali, a senior newspaper journalist in Islamabad. “Instead of ensuring transparency and accountability, the government has chosen to target the very individuals who expose the corruption and misgovernance.”
But Shafqat Ali seemed in no mood to be intimidated or bullied into compliance. “The amendments violate fundamental rights and undermine the principles of democracy. The government must understand that Pakistani media has come a long way and journalists will not be bullied into silence.”
Asked what Pakistani journalists are planning to do about the new oppressive law, Shafqat Ali declared that the PFUJ’s “Press Freedom Movement” is just the beginning. We will continue to fight until this law is repealed and press freedom is fully restored in Pakistan.”
Human rights bodies in Pakistan contacted by 5Pillars have also deplored the new law and expressed deep concern over the negative impact that it will have on their work.
“We rely heavily on social media to publicise abductions and forced disappearances and our work involves challenging the authorities in order to highlight the injustices suffered by citizens in Pakistan” said Amina Masood, chairperson of Defence of Human Rights Pakistan. “We are concerned that this new law will be used against us to impede our work.”
Another renowned Pakistani journalist and the Secretary General of PFUJ, Arshad Ansari, also denounced the anti-media law passed by President Zardari. “The government’s actions demonstrate a clear intent to suffocate independent journalism. We will not stand by as press freedom is dismantled piece by piece.”
“I ask them”, said an emotionally charged Ansari: “What urgent crisis justifies such a blatant attack on free speech?”
Black hole for press freedom
Pakistan ranks 152 out of 180 countries for press freedom, according to Reporters Without Borders.
“The government has direct control over media regulators, which systematically favour defence of the government over the public’s right to information. As the military has steadily tightened its grip on civilian institutions, coverage of military and intelligence agency interference in politics has become off-limits for journalists,” says RWB.
“Under the guise of protecting journalism, Pakistani law is used to censor any criticism of the government and the military. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), created in 2002, is concerned less with regulating the media sector than with regulating the content they broadcast.
“The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), adopted in 2016, is used more to restrict online freedom of expression than to crack down on online crime.”