JournalismPakistan.com | Published 2 months ago | JP Staff Report
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD — The Senate Standing Committee on Interior has directed the Ministry of Interior to submit a detailed report on the cybercrime case registered against several women journalists under the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
During a committee session, notices were taken of the case that names Nayyar Ali, Secretary of the National Press Club (NPC), Sehrish Qureshi, Joint Secretary, and former NPC office-bearers Myra Imran and Shakeela Jalil, among others. The committee expressed concern over the matter and formally asked the ministry to clarify the basis of the case.
The move follows widespread criticism from journalist bodies and civil society groups, who argue that the PECA law has been increasingly used as a tool to harass, silence, and intimidate journalists. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has already condemned the case, calling it an attack on press freedom and a direct threat to women journalists working in the country.
What makes this case alarming is its vindictive nature. The women journalists were reportedly included simply because they were addressing a harassment complaint, yet they now find themselves entangled in a criminal case. Even administrators and members of the National Press Club Women’s Caucus WhatsApp group—171 professionals in total—have been dragged into this legal farce. Such mass implication reflects not justice but intimidation tactics designed to silence women in the newsroom and beyond.
Introduced in 2016, the PECA Act was initially meant to curb online harassment, hate speech, and cybercrimes. However, it has frequently come under fire for being misused against journalists, political activists, and dissenting voices. In recent years, several reporters and social media activists have faced legal action under its broad and vaguely defined clauses.
The involvement of women journalists in the case has sparked an especially sharp backlash, with rights advocates stressing that it highlights the growing risks faced by women in Pakistan’s media industry. Many argue that such cases discourage women from pursuing journalism at a time when representation and press diversity are already under pressure.
The Senate Committee’s demand for a report is being viewed as a positive step, but journalist unions insist that the charges must be withdrawn immediately. Observers say the development has once again reignited the debate around revising or repealing PECA to prevent its misuse against the media.
Photo: Representational
November 11, 2025: JournalismPakistan announces 'Once Upon a Newsroom', a storytelling series celebrating Pakistanâs newsroom heritage, beginning with The Muslim, the now-defunct independent daily from Islamabad.
November 09, 2025: Pakistanâs media reels under layoffs, censorship, and union silence as journalists face attacks, fake news, and closures, deepening a nationwide media crisis.
November 08, 2025: JournalismPakistan.com launches its new tagline, Linking Journalism Worldwide, reflecting global expansion beyond Pakistan with Asia, World, and Middle East coverage.
November 08, 2025: Veteran journalist Javed Iqbal Jaidi passes away in Shorkot after a long illness. Friends remember his humor, humility, and lifelong dedication to journalism.
November 07, 2025: JournalismPakistan.com launches a Middle East section to expand regional reporting. New coverage will follow JPâs editorial SOPsâverification, balanced sourcing, and two-stage review.
November 07, 2025: Russia accuses Pakistanâs Frontier Post of anti-Russia bias; the paper defends press freedom and independence. A diplomatic clash over media narratives.
November 07, 2025: Veteran journalist Javed Chaudhry bids farewell to Express News after 18 years on Kal Tak, marking the end of an era in Pakistani television journalism.
November 06, 2025: Information Minister Attaullah Tararâs job offer to Nukta staff draws criticism as hundreds of journalists across Pakistan face layoffs, salary delays, and job insecurity.
November 11, 2025 BBC reels from leadership resignations and Trumpâs $1B lawsuit over an edited speech as outgoing chief Tim Davie rallies journalists to defend press freedom.
November 11, 2025 Report finds 44 Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza displacement tents, highlighting threats to media freedom and independent reporting since October 2023.
November 11, 2025 British journalist Sami Hamdi was released from US ICE detention after visa revocation, highlighting risks to cross-border journalism and press freedom.
November 11, 2025 IJAS condemns rising attacks and threats against journalists in Serbia and calls for urgent investigations, police accountability, and stronger protection for media freedom.
November 10, 2025 In Europe, 32 of 51 journalist killings remain unresolved, exposing a crisis of impunity and threatening media freedom across the continent.