Senate Committee Orders Review of PECA Implementation

The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting convened on Wednesday to assess the enforcement of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). Committee Chairman Barrister Ali Zafar declared that 372 cases registered under PECA by provincial bodies were unlawful and mandated their immediate retraction.

Senator Zafar, presiding over the session, asserted that the amendment to the law ensures no citizen faces unjust prosecution. A sub-committee was formed to monitor compliance and ensure this directive is followed. The sub-committee members will be finalized, taking into account the sensitivity of the issue.

Highlighting concerns over PECA’s potential misuse, Senator Zafar cautioned against its application as a tool to suppress journalists or the public. Referring to a submitted report, he pointed out ambiguities in the classification of numerous cases as “anti-state,” questioning whether they genuinely threatened national security or represented censorship.

“Individuals committing legitimate offenses under the law should be prosecuted and penalized, a stance supported by the public. However, using PECA to target criticism of government policies, such as responses to floods, constitutes an abuse of the law,” Senator Zafar stated.

The Ministry of Interior clarified to the committee that none of the registered cases pertained to anti-state activities. Instead, they involved hate crimes, including incitement and sectarian aggression.

Senator Zafar emphasized the necessity of balancing national security with the protection of free expression. Senators Sarmad Ali, Irfan-ul-Haq Siddiqui, Pervaiz Rashid, Abdul Shakoor Khan, Jan Muhammad, Syed Waqar Mehdi, and Faisal Javed attended the meeting, along with Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar.

“Journalists are vital to democracy. While our goal is to advance democracy, questions must remain ethical. We sometimes encounter biased inquiries,” the chairman noted.

The case of Tariq Ali Virk was addressed, with Minister Attaullah Tarar reporting the suspension of the implicated officer and the RPO Rawalpindi’s meeting with journalists to resolve the issue. “The matter has been resolved amicably,” he assured.

The committee suggested forming a coordination body to address journalists’ concerns.

The committee chairman reviewed cases filed under PECA, noting that Islamabad had 19 cases, none involving journalists. Following amendments, provinces cannot register PECA cases, which are now under federal jurisdiction.

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) reported 1,214 cases nationwide, including ten against journalists, 611 involving financial fraud, and 320 concerning harassment. No arrests have been made in the Islamabad cases.

The committee voiced apprehension about 372 cases registered unlawfully in the provinces post-PECA amendment. Senator Ali Zafar questioned, “What should be done with these cases wrongly registered by unauthorized entities?” He advocated for the retraction of these cases and the sub-committee’s formation to manage this issue.

Senator Irfan-ul-Haq Siddiqui revealed a significant financial fraud, stating that scammers misused his identity to target nine members of the National Assembly. “Money is being solicited in my name. Despite multiple complaints, there has been no remedy,” he said.

NCCIA officials confirmed the recovery of Rs1.3 million in Senator Irfan’s case, with four arrests made and efforts to capture the primary suspect. They added that Rs10 million had been recovered in five months in WhatsApp-related hacking incidents.

Senator Irfan mentioned he intended to raise this in the Senate, but the committee had already taken cognizance. He had filed complaints with FIA over two years, with around Rs3 million still unrecovered.

He expressed disappointment that no arrests had occurred despite technological advancements and sympathized with the defrauded senators, MNAs, and MPAs.

Senator Pervaiz Rashid informed the committee about harassment and threats following a Senate speech. “I was abused and threatened, yet my complaint was unaddressed,” he reported.

Chairman Ali Zafar assured this would be investigated, urging Senator Pervaiz Rashid to formalize his complaint, finding it alarming that a senator could be threatened for a speech in the House.

Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi raised concerns about a state television anchor’s hateful vlog against the Sindhi community. The committee unanimously recommended an FIR against the anchor under PECA.

The committee requested details of federal government advertisement spending in print and electronic media from March 5, 2024, to date for the subsequent meeting.

The Cabinet has approved rules for the Social Media Regulatory Authority, with staff recruitment advertisements forthcoming.

The committee postponed consideration of the Motion Picture (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduced by Senator Afnanullah Khan, to the next session.