The Senate Standing Committee on Information reviewed implementation of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and ordered the withdrawal of hundreds of PECA cases filed by provincial authorities, saying they were illegally registered. The committee warned against using the law to silence journalists or suppress legitimate criticism, formed sub-committees to oversee implementation of its directives, and heard updates on cybercrime investigations and proposed social media regulation.
Chairman Senator Syed Ali Zafar told the committee that several hundred provincial PECA cases had been registered unlawfully and must be withdrawn immediately. He constituted a sub-committee to monitor compliance and asked officials to ensure citizens are not prosecuted unlawfully. The committee also recommended forming a coordination committee to handle journalists’ grievances.
Senator Zafar warned against misuse of PECA as a tool of censorship. “Journalists are the fourth pillar of democracy. We all aim to advance democracy, but questions must also remain within ethical bounds. Sometimes we face planted questions as well,” he said, stressing the need to distinguish legitimate national security cases from criticism of government policies.
The Ministry of Interior told the committee that none of the cases reviewed were related to anti-state activity; most involved hate crimes, incitement or sectarian violence. Members noted that amendments to PECA have shifted jurisdiction to the federal government, barring provinces from registering such cases.
Committee members reviewed official case figures. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency reported 1,214 PECA cases registered nationwide, including 10 involving journalists, 611 related to financial fraud and 320 concerning harassment. Nineteen cases in the federal capital were identified as not involving journalists; no arrests have been made in those cases. The chairman highlighted concern over several hundred provincial cases registered after the amendment—citing one count of 378 and another reference to 372—and directed that all such cases be taken back under federal jurisdiction and examined by the sub-committee.
Lawmakers raised specific cybercrime incidents. Senator Irfan-ul-Haq Siddiqui said scammers had impersonated him to target nine members of the National Assembly and that his multiple complaints had yet to yield redress. Officials from NCCIA reported Rs 1.3 million recovered in that matter, with four arrests and ongoing efforts to locate the main suspect; they added that Rs 10 million had been recovered from WhatsApp-related hacking cases in the past months. Senator Pervaiz Rashid told the committee he had faced harassment and threats after a Senate speech and that his complaint had not been addressed.
The committee heard that the Cabinet has approved rules for a Social Media Regulatory Authority and that recruitment advertisements for its staff will be issued soon. Members also recommended registering a first information report under PECA against a state television anchor accused of broadcasting a hateful vlog against the Sindhi community, after hearing from both sides.
The committee requested detailed figures on federal government advertising expenditures across print and electronic media for a recent period beginning in March and deferred consideration of the Motion Picture (Amendment) Bill introduced by Senator Afnanullah to its next session. Senator Zafar closed the meeting by reiterating the need to balance national security with freedom of expression. The meeting was attended by Senators Sarmad Ali, Irfan-ul-Haq Siddiqui, Pervaiz Rashid, Abdul Shakoor Khan, Jan Muhammad, Syed Waqar Mehdi, Faisal Javed and Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar.
