ISLAMABAD: The Senate approved the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Amendment Bill 2025 and the Digital Nation Bill 2025 on Tuesday, despite strong criticism from journalists, human rights organizations, and opposition benches.
The bills, which have created a rift between the government and opposition, were presented by Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Federal Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, who acted on behalf of the interior minister currently on a visit to the United States. Despite objections, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), an ally of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), supported the bills, while the opposition party, PTI, opposed them.
PTI senators protested by gathering in front of Deputy Chairman Syedal Khan Nasir’s dais, raising slogans against the bill and tearing its copies. Journalists, too, staged a walkout from the Press Gallery in protest.
The bills will now be sent to President Asif Ali Zardari for presidential assent, after which they will become law.
Rana Tanveer, defending the PECA bill, clarified that it was aimed at regulating digital and social media, not TV or print media. He mentioned that PTI’s Shibli Faraz had almost accepted the bill, but Faraz criticized the hasty passage of the law, stating that no law should be rushed through and that it should have undergone thorough discussion.
A day earlier, the Senate Standing Committee approved the PECA bill. While journalists raised concerns over certain provisions, the committee chair questioned why objections were not formally presented in writing. Journalists argue that while they too are victims of fake news, some clauses in the bill are unacceptable.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui, highlighting issues with the law, remarked that anyone could be handcuffed without due process, referencing his own experience with a false case. Kamran Murtaza also opposed the bill. In response, the interior secretary emphasized that the law was designed to protect citizens and urged its approval in its current form.
Recently, the National Assembly had also passed the PECA 2025 amendment bill with a majority vote, following a walkout by opposition parties and journalists.
The bill aims to regulate social media and online content in Pakistan. A new authority, the Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA), will be established to oversee online content and safeguard users' digital rights. The DRPA will have the power to remove online content, block access to prohibited material, and take action against individuals who share such content.
The bill defines social media platforms to include websites, applications, and communication channels. The DRPA will ensure the promotion of digital literacy and online safety. It will also register social media platforms and set conditions for their operation within Pakistan.
Penalties for spreading false information online include up to three years in prison and a fine of Rs2 million. A Social Media Protection Tribunal will be established to hear cases related to online content, and it will be required to dispose of cases within 90 days. Additionally, a National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency will be set up to investigate cybercrime cases.
Opponents, including PTI leader Barrister Ali Zafar, have criticized the PECA bill, labeling it a draconian law, and have vowed to reject it.
