Amendments to PECA Law Paving the Way for Civilian Martial Law, Experts Warn

Amendments to PECA Law Paving the Way for Civilian Martial Law, Experts Warn

The passage of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Peca) (Amendment) Bill 2025 has sparked outrage in the journalist community and opposition groups. Senior reporter Mazhar Abbas has dismissed the bill as authoritarian and undemocratic.

“Gagging the press is against democratic values. These actions are taking us towards civilian martial law,” senior journalist Mazhar Abbas said when he appeared on the Geo News program “Geo Pakistan.”

The amendments passed across the National Assembly and the Senate will impose a stricter stance on people who spread false information via social networks, as per the government.

Abbas said the proposed law is similar to the one the previous government tried to pass.

In 2016, the Pakistan Islamic League-Nawaz (PML-N) government came up with Peca along with its successor, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government later introduced a more stringent version, and the government in place had brought in an amendment that was the “worst law” yet, as he said.

“They are banning your thoughts. You cannot even think [freely]. Otherwise, it can be interpreted as speaking against someone,” the journalist warned.

Abbas said that successive governments initially restricted writing, images, and speech. “In reality, they are trying to kill or massacre the media,” Abbas said.

In response to the government’s argument for the amendments, Abbas challenged what constitutes fake news.

“They claim they want to regulate misinformation on digital media. But what is fake news? If I say today that the February 8 election was rigged, does that make it fake news? No, it is an opinion that can be debated,” He explained.

The journalist warned against the rush of laws, describing them as risky. He was skeptical of the urgency of the legislation and pointed out that governments frequently oppose the laws they previously were enforcing.

“Why the rush?” he questioned. “This government, once out of power, will be the first to suffer under this law.”

Also, he warned if the opposition were to come to the throne, it could be able to implement even stricter rules. “The next government, if formed by the current opposition, could be worse,” the politician said.

Abbas has accused the government of not formally claiming that it consulted parties before introducing the Peca modifications.

“They are lying. When the PTI government was in power, they held consultations. When PML-N was in power, Marriyum Aurangzeb herself admitted she was unaware that such a law was being introduced,” the politician recalled.

He also thanked the former Punjab minister who took action to deter the responsible officials.

Abbas expressed his displeasure with the mentality that aims to control media and said, “True consultations involve an exchange of drafts, not just claims.”

He demanded that Federal Information Minister Ataullah Tarar disclose the documents allegedly shared with journalist organizations if the government engaged in multiple discussion sessions.

“Govt. not in a hurry

In the meantime, the Adviser to the Premier for Law and Justice, Aqeel Malik, presented a different view, arguing that the government was not reckless or rigid in its approach and that consultations were taking place.

“This matter has been under discussion for three to four years. Even when Marriyum Aurangzeb was the information minister, consultations were held, and the government incorporated many suggestions,” Malik, an attorney by profession, told the same program.

He said that debates had occurred during Senate committee sessions but stressed that “not everything needs to be included in an act of parliament — some aspects should be left to the rules.”

To defend the government’s position, Barrister Malik cited international examples, noting that Australia has been able to ban social media for kids under 16 years old, in addition to the fact that the United States has separate legislation regarding fake news in every state.

He also mentioned the false news about the Southport murders within the United Kingdom, which led to more violence.

“Maintaining that this issue should not be addressed is wrong. There is an element of intent in it. It is for all Pakistanis. The fraternity has not been targeted in it,” Malik concluded, highlighting the necessity of legal measures to stop misinformation and disinformation.