ISLAMABAD: The Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) bill passed by Pakistan’s National Assembly has been criticized by human rights activists as an attack on freedom of expression. Journalists seated in the parliament’s press gallery walked out of the session as protest.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had supported the legislation, but its own leader, Raza Rabbani, has come out against the bill. He issued a statement on Friday, saying, “This bill will further undermine freedom of expression by establishing authorities that operate under executive control.”
The controversial bill suggests adding a new provision, Section 26(A), to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). This addition is aimed at penalizing those responsible for spreading “fake news” online.
It states: “Anyone who intentionally distributes, publicly displays, or transmits information through any information system that they know or have reason to believe is false or misleading, and is likely to instill fear, panic, disorder, or unrest in the general public or society, shall face punishment of imprisonment for up to three years, a fine of up to Rs2 million, or both.”
Digital rights activists say it would be used to arbitarily clamp down on free expression on online platforms.
Rabbani said the bill would empower the executive not only to control the content of messages but also to regulate those who manage social media platforms.
“Joint Investigation Teams including members of unnamed intelligence agencies will be formed to watch over journalists, social media and the general public,” he warned.
Rabbani stated the government failed to take the relevant stakeholders in confidence before the passage of the bill. “In fact, it breached its commitments with various elected journalist bodies for consultation,” he said in the statement.
