PECA controversy: President Zardari delays signing following media outcry

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has decided to delay signing the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) after concerns were raised by journalists.

The Parliamentary Reporter Association (PRA), through Maulana Fazlur Rehman, expressed opposition to the PECA Act. Rehman reached out to the President Zardari, asking him to hold off on signing the bill until the concerns of journalists are addressed.

According to sources, President Zardari agreed to delay the bill at Rehman’s request. He decided not to sign the PECA amendment bill for now, while discussions continue to address journalists' concerns. Maulana Fazlur Rehman informed the PRA about his communication with the President regarding this matter.

Sources also mention that discussions are ongoing between Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and journalist organizations. A meeting between the Interior Minister and the PRA is expected soon to further discuss the bill before it is signed.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) expressed that it was unaware of any lack of consultation on the PECA bill, which the party had supported in both houses of parliament.

PPP Vice President Sherry Rehman told journalists in Islamabad on Tuesday that they were initially told all stakeholders would be consulted, but that didn’t happen. She assured journalists that the PPP would support any amendments to the law that are proposed by media organizations.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari echoed Rehman’s concerns, suggesting that it would have been better if journalist organizations had been consulted to reach a consensus on the legislation.

The PECA law was passed in 2016 to address cybercrime and regulate electronic communication in Pakistan. It aimed to tackle online crimes such as hacking, data theft, and cyberbullying. However, many journalists and media organizations have raised concerns about the law’s impact on press freedom and freedom of expression.

Mazhar Abbas, a senior member of the PFUJ, commented, “The government has to learn from the past, as this law was previously used against the same party that rushed to pass it.”