The recent amendment to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) is a direct assault on fundamental constitutional rights and press freedom in Pakistan. The government hastily passed this bill without consulting key stakeholders, raising serious concerns about its impact on journalism and freedom of expression.
“This amendment will only create more challenges for journalists and media professionals in Pakistan, who are already struggling under restrictive laws,” said Sabookh Syed, President of the Digital Media Alliance for Pakistan. “It is alarming that all political parties seem to be on the same page on this issue, without fully understanding the long-term consequences of their actions.”
Pakistan’s media landscape is already under immense pressure, and further tightening of laws will only serve to silence independent journalism. We strongly reject this amendment and urge the authorities to engage in meaningful dialogue with media representatives before making such critical decisions.
The Digital Media Alliance for Pakistan stands firm in defending press freedom and calls on the government to reconsider this amendment in the interest of democracy and free speech.
Read also; Journalists bear crucial responsibility of accurately reporting on environmental issues in Balochistan
