National Assembly Passes Controversial Electronic Crimes Amendment Bill Amid Protests
Islamabad: The National Assembly on Thursday approved the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 without opposition, triggering sharp criticism from journalist organizations and media bodies across Pakistan.
The bill, presented by Federal Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, was passed within minutes as opposition parties had already staged a walkout. The amendments introduce new definitions, establish regulatory and investigative bodies, and impose stricter penalties for spreading “false” information online.
One of the most contentious changes, detailed in Section 26A, reduces the punishment for disseminating “fake information” to a maximum of three years imprisonment. It also includes a fine of up to Rs2 million or both for individuals found guilty. The provision specifically targets those who “intentionally disseminate, publicly exhibit, or transmit information they know or have reason to believe is false and likely to cause fear, panic, or unrest in the public or society.”
Journalist organizations, including the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND), All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), and Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), have rejected the amendments outright.
PFUJ Secretary General Arshad Ansari condemned the move, announcing plans to challenge the law in court and calling for nationwide protests and a boycott of assembly sessions. “These amendments undermine press freedom and target dissent under the guise of regulating misinformation,” Ansari told Geo News.
The swift passage of the bill has further strained relations between the government and the media, with critics arguing that the amendments could be misused to suppress free speech and press freedom. The government has yet to respond to the mounting backlash from journalist bodies and civil society.
