PFUJ has filed a challenge against the PECA Amendment Act in the Islamabad High Court
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has approached the Islamabad High Court, challenging the recently passed Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Amendment Act of 2025.
In a petition submitted by PFUJ President Afzal Butt, through Advocate Imran Shafiq, the union argues that the amended law is not only unconstitutional but also an alarming threat to press freedom.
The petition highlights how the PECA Amendment Act imposes unreasonable restrictions on free speech, deepening government control over the media. The PFUJ is asking the court to halt the enforcement of this controversial law.
At the heart of the petition is the claim that the amendment undermines the fundamental rights guaranteed by Articles 19 and 19A of the Constitution, which protect freedom of speech and the right to access information.
The PFUJ contends that the law grants the government sweeping censorship powers, criminalizes fake news without fair legal procedures, and severely infringes upon digital and human rights in Pakistan. The petition also points out that the regulatory body under PECA lacks the necessary constitutional foundation to carry out such duties.
