ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court against the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Amendment Act 2025.
PFUJ President Afzal Butt, through Advocate Imran Shafiq, submitted the petition, contending that the amended PECA law is unconstitutional, unlawful, and an assault on press freedom.
The petition argues that the PECA Amendment Act 2025 imposes unconstitutional restrictions on free speech and expands government control over the media. The PFUJ has urged the court to suspend the implementation of the contentious law.
According to the petition, the amendment violates Articles 19 and 19A of the Constitution, which safeguard freedom of expression and access to information.
It further asserts that the law grants excessive censorship powers to the government, criminalizes fake news without due legal process, and constitutes a severe breach of digital and human rights in Pakistan. Additionally, the petition challenges the constitutional legitimacy of PECA’s regulatory authority.
