Karachi: The Senate of Pakistan on Tuesday passed the PECA Amendment Bill 2025 with a majority vote.
However, journalists present in the National Assembly press gallery staged a walkout in protest, claiming they were not sufficiently consulted on the bill.
Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar stated that consultations on the bill had been ongoing for three and a half years, though he did not clarify which stakeholders were involved in the process.
When the session, chaired by the Deputy Chairman of the Senate, began, the government presented the draft legislation in the Upper House, according to Independent Urdu.
The motion to introduce the “Digital Nation Pakistan Bill” for approval was passed amidst consistent protests by opposition members at different intervals.
While Minister Tarar presented the bill, opposition senators began protesting in the house. The demonstrations continued even during the clause-by-clause approval process of the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill.
Senator Kamran Murtaza proposed amendments, arguing that the bill encroaches on provincial jurisdiction. Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader in the Senate, Shibli Faraz, approached the Chairman’s dais and expressed his frustration at the Senate Secretary.
Awami National Party (ANP) Senator Aimal Wali also protested near the Law Minister’s seat.
Though the PECA Amendment Bill had not yet been presented during the session, opposition members criticized it harshly.
Senator Aimal Wali stated, “The PECA Amendment Bill is a black law that curtails freedom of expression. The PECA Act reeks of boots.” Following this statement, ANP members walked out of the house.
“Press is not PTI”
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Shibli Faraz, said, “Legislation is our job, but laws are being passed without consultation. You should have consulted those directly affected by the PECA Act.”
He added, “This law will strengthen political victimization, and anyone can be arrested for allegedly violating the PECA Act. You didn’t consult journalists, and laws aren’t passed this way; it takes months to approve such legislation.”
During this time, the Parliamentary Reporters Association, representing journalists covering Parliament, walked out of the press gallery in protest.
Shibli Faraz commented, “The press has walked out. They are protesting. The press is not PTI. You have created a law without consultation that will have far-reaching consequences.”
Federal Minister Rana Tanveer later presented the motion to introduce the PECA Amendment Bill 2025 in the Senate, which was approved. Clause-by-clause approval of the bill then began.
Shibli Faraz reiterated that he did not support the bill but acknowledged the ministers’ valid concerns about opposing false news. “No one supports the spread of false and baseless news,” he stated.
Federal Minister Rana Tanveer assured, “If there’s anything missing in the bill, we will incorporate journalists’ suggestions through amendments.”
Senator Ali Zafar criticized the Deputy Chairman Senate, stating, “You didn’t allow anyone to speak on the bill. You don’t give the opposition its due importance.”
After the bill’s approval, PTI Senator Shibli Faraz called for a walkout. However, members of the house remained seated.