LAHORE/MULTAN/JHANG: A hunger strike camp was set up at Lahore Press Club under the call of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) to protest the Peca Amendment Bill 2025.
The event, organized by the Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ), saw participation from the Lahore Press Club, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Punjab Assembly Press Gallery, Association of Photojournalists Lahore, as well as representatives from the legal fraternity and civil society.
Journalists raised strong slogans against Peca during the protest. Addressing the gathering, PFUJ Secretary-General and Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari accuses government of deceiving the public and spreading falsehoods. He emphasized that journalists stand as the true and powerful voice of the people, which the authorities aim to suppress through state power.
He warned that if the government fails to consult stakeholders and withdraw the bill, journalists nationwide will surround the Parliament House. He added that the next course of action will be announced on the last day of the three-day protest on February 14.
HRCP Vice-Chairman Raja Ashraf stated that the issue concerns freedom of expression and that HRCP stands firmly with the journalists.
PUJ President Naeem Hanif stressed that all journalistic organizations are united against Peca and will not rest until the “anti-expression” law is abolished. The protest was also addressed by PUJ General Secretary Qamar-ul-Zaman Bhatti, Lahore Press Club Secretary Zahid Abid, Nadeem Zaeem, Sher Ali Khalti, Pervez Altaf, and Syed Fatir Waleed, among others. A large number of journalists, including Crime Reporters Association Secretary Mujahid Sheikh and Sports Journalists Federation President Iqbal Harper, were present.
Meanwhile, the entire journalist community sets up hunger strike camps in Southern Punjab districts against press freedom killer law of Pakistan Electronic Crime (amended) (Peca) Act 2025 here on Wednesday. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) made a countrywide appeal to set up hunger strike camps across the country against the draconian law in a bid to save the press and media freedom in the country.
The journalists said the Peca Act has sieged digital expression in the country. The journalists protest at district headquarters in Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions. They said the government passed the bill with sweeping control on press and media freedom including social media.
Scores of journalists participated in the hunger strike camp set up at the Multan press club hosted by Multan Union of Journalists. The journalists condemned the Peca Act, terming it as black law. The shameful act revived the history of dictators.
The journalists said the amendments in the draconian Peca Act is tightening the government’s grip over Pakistan’s heavily controlled digital landscape.
They said the amendment introduced a criminal offence against those perpetrating so-called ‘false and fake information’ and imposed a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment with a fine. The vague and ambiguous framing of some elements of the offense together with a history of the Peca being used to silence dissent raises concerns that this new offence will chill what little is left of the right to online expression in the country.
The journalists said that the Peca Act under section 37 of Peca, PTA is mandated to block the access or removal of unlawful online content(s)/information disseminated through any information system in Pakistan, which among other things includes content(s)/information against integrity, security or defence of Pakistan (anti-state), against the glory of Islam.
Journalists criticised Peca Act sections and said that under Section 22, punishment of up to seven years or fine up to Rs5 million or both has been prescribed for the offence of producing, distributing or transmitting pornographic material showing underage girls engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
The journalists said no consultation debate was invited among the stakeholders before hurriedly approved amendments. The amendment also expanded the powers previously available to the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) through the newly created Social Media Regulation and Protection Authority. The MUJ office bearers spoke on the occasion were include Rauf Maan, Shahadat Hussein and others.
Meanwhile, on the call of the PFUJ, the members of the Jhang Press Club and the Union of Journalists on Wednesday also organized a hunger strike camp outside the building of the press club.
The members of the Jhang Press Club and Union of Journalists, wearing black wristbands, protested and emphasized that the Peca amendments violate Articles 8 and 19 of the Constitution, which protect the right to freedom of expression. The District Bar Association President, Farid Nawaz, has also dubbed the Peca Amendment Act a ‘black law’ and an attempt to stifle free speech.
The bar president also stated that the amendments would undermine independent reporting and dissent. He further said that the lawyer’s community is with the journalists and will continue participating in rallies and peaceful public protests.
