HRCP flags chilling effect of PECA through Ali Gul Pir clip

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 27 January 2026 |  JP Staff Report

HRCP shared a clip of Ali Gul Pir reading Section 26A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act as part of a campaign marking PECA's 10th year and warned the law has been used to pursue journalists, activists and content creators, chilling online speech.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday shared a video clip featuring comedian Ali Gul Pir reading out a provision of Pakistan’s cybercrime law, warning that restrictions on online speech have created a climate where silence feels safer than expression. The post was published on HRCP’s official social media account and framed as the start of a broader campaign marking ten years since the enactment of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).

In its accompanying text, HRCP said the law, introduced in 2016 to address online harms such as harassment and blackmail, has instead been used to curb dissent and discourage criticism. The organization stated that journalists, activists, and content creators have faced legal action or interrogation over online speech, contributing to what it described as a chilling effect on free expression.

PECA and the reading of section 26A

In the video clip, Ali Gul Pir reads aloud what HRCP identified as Section 26A of PECA, titled punishment for false and fake information. The provision describes penalties, including imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of up to two million rupees, or both, for intentionally disseminating information believed to be false and likely to cause fear, panic, disorder, or unrest in society.

After reading the text, the comedian adds a brief personal remark, saying he would prefer not to say anything further and advising viewers to stay careful. The clip ends without additional commentary or interpretation.

HRCP campaign and call for public participation

HRCP said the video marks the beginning of a series in which it plans to share accounts of how the cybercrime law has shaped what people feel able to say online. The organization invited members of the public to submit videos reading sections of PECA 2016 or PECA 2025 that they consider significant, positioning the initiative as an effort to document lived experiences around the law.

The commission framed the campaign as an attempt to encourage public discussion rather than silence, stating that examining the impact of the law is a necessary step toward understanding its consequences for digital expression in Pakistan.

WHY THIS MATTERS: For Pakistani journalists and media organizations, the HRCP campaign highlights the continued legal risks associated with online reporting and commentary. The focus on specific statutory language underscores the importance of newsroom awareness of cybercrime provisions and their potential use in legal proceedings. It also reinforces the need for editorial caution, legal literacy, and documentation when publishing content that could be scrutinized under PECA.

ATTRIBUTION: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan social media post and video featuring Ali Gul Pir; text of Section 26A as read in the video.

PHOTO: Still from Ali Gul Pir video, courtesy of HRCP