Senate body approves PECA Bill amid journalists protest
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Monday approved the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) amendment bill despite opposition from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and journalist organisations.
JUI Senator Kamran Murtaza said why the PACA Amendment Bill is being passed so haste. In such a short time, the law cannot be read, what will be the consultation.
Kamran Murtaza said that there are many weaknesses in the bill and added that there is no definition of fake news, how will it be decided what fake news is.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui said that it would have been very good to have consulted journalists before the bill, but we agree with the spirit of the bill. He said it is necessary to root out menace of fake news in the form of social media.
The Secretary Interior requested the committee to approve the bill approved by the National Assembly. The government has also introduced some amendments so that the law can be implemented better.
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Eearleir, National Assembly approved the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025.
Federal Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer presented the PECA Act Amendment Bill 2025 in the National Assembly for approval, which was approved by the lower house by majority vote.
The draft titled “Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025” includes new definitions, the establishment of regulatory and investigative bodies, and stricter penalties for disseminating “false” information.
