Journalists in Pakistan are urging Parliament to reconsider all media laws, criticizing recent amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016 as a tool to intimidate journalists and stifle media freedom. At the National Journalists Convention on “Media Laws, Regulations, and Ethics,” organized by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ), a declaration known as the “Islamabad Declaration” demanded a review of laws conflicting with Article 19 of the Constitution.
The journalists expressed concerns over ongoing job cuts and job insecurity in the media industry, particularly in electronic media, where layoffs have occurred without valid reasons, leaving many media personnel unemployed amidst high inflation. They also criticized the denial of basic employment rights such as health insurance, gratuity, and EOBI registration and benefits. The event highlighted the government’s use of public advertisements to influence editorial content and enforce censorship, with Daily Dawn facing challenges in receiving public-sector advertisements and private corporate sector support.
A report by Islamabad-based media watchdog Freedom Network revealed a shrinking space for free expression in Pakistan due to legal, regulatory, and economic pressures. The amended Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) law was identified as a significant tool restricting journalists and free speech practitioners. The report noted an increase in the use of PECA provisions to criminalize lawful expression, target dissent, and intimidate journalists, lawyers, and political commentators.
