IHC Begins Hearing Petitions Filed by Journalists and Media Bodies
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday commenced hearings on a series of petitions challenging the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Amendment Act 2025, with Justice Inam Amin Minhas presiding over the proceedings.
The petitions were jointly filed by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), several prominent TV anchors, and the IHC Journalists Association, who are seeking annulment of the controversial amendments to PECA passed earlier this year.
During the hearing, the federal government submitted its written reply, confirming that provincial governments have now been made party to the case. Government lawyer Imran Shafiq also informed the court that initial objections raised by the Registrar’s Office have been resolved.
Justice Minhas instructed the petitioners’ counsels to begin presenting their arguments. PFUJ’s legal representative, Dr Yasir Aman Khan, opened by outlining the historical context of the PECA law. He noted that while the original PECA legislation was enacted in 2016, the 2025 amendment significantly overhauls its structure by removing key clauses and introducing new ones, including the formation of a Social Media Complaint Council.
The judge asked for further clarification on how the code of conduct has been altered under the revised law and requested comparisons with the previous framework.
Controversial Amendments Under Scrutiny
The PECA (Amendment) Act 2025, passed by the National Assembly under a supplementary agenda, has drawn criticism for significantly enhancing the government’s power to monitor, censor, and penalise digital content.
Key provisions include the creation of a Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA), a powerful new body authorised to block online content, impose fines, and regulate digital platforms. The amendments also broaden the definition of “social media platforms” to include software, tools, and apps used to access or distribute content.
Additionally, the law expands jurisdiction to cover websites, mobile applications, and other communication channels, while the FIA’s Cybercrime Wing is set to be dissolved and replaced with a more stringent enforcement mechanism.
One of the most contentious changes allows for up to three years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs2 million for individuals who share expunged parliamentary or provincial assembly content on social media.
The IHC is expected to continue hearings in the coming days, with the court directing petitioners to lay out specific legal arguments challenging the constitutional validity and scope of the amendments.
