JournalismPakistan.com | Published January 22, 2025 at 07:23 pm | PFUJ Media Release
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ISLAMABAD—The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has vehemently condemned the newly proposed amendments to the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, describing the move as a “betrayal” by Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.
PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari labeled the amendments as "unconstitutional" and a calculated attempt to curtail the freedom of the media, social media, and press in Pakistan. They stated that the amendments directly violate the constitutional guarantees of free expression and are an affront to democratic principles.
The PFUJ leadership expressed disappointment in Minister Tarar for failing to honor his promise to share the draft amendments with stakeholders, including PFUJ. They accused him of deliberately bypassing meaningful consultation and claimed that the tabling of these amendments was carried out at the behest of “invisible forces.”
“The government’s actions amount to ditching the entire media community,” the PFUJ said, adding that such unilateral decisions erode trust and undermine the values of a free and open press.
The union reiterated its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the constitutional right to freedom of expression and press freedom, vowing to resist any move aimed at silencing dissent or critical voices.
Calling for the immediate withdrawal of the draft amendments, the PFUJ urged the government to initiate a consultative process with relevant stakeholders to ensure transparency and alignment with constitutional principles.
The PFUJ warned that if the amendments are not withdrawn, the journalist community will have no choice but to organize nationwide protests to block the passage of the bill.
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