The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called on the Supreme Court in Pakistan to urgently review the law on the prevention of electronic crimes (PECA), referring to what it says, escalates threats to press freedom and security for journalists in the country.
In a letter addressed to Chief Justice – and also sent to the Prime Minister, Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court and the president of the Pakistani Federal Union of Journalist (PFUJ) – IFJ said that media professionals in Pakistan are facing the installation of dangers while performing their professional duties.
Earlier this year, the National Assembly adopted a set of changes to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (PECA) according to a supplementary agenda, which significantly expands the government’s authority to regulate online content and punish digital offenses. PECA (amendment) ACT 2025 included provisions on the formation of a digital rights protection Authority (DRPA), which will be empowered to remove online content, limit access to prohibited material and impose such content.
The changes also expanded the definition of “social media platforms” to include tools and software used to access these platforms. The revised law is now expanding its jurisdiction to include sites, applications and various communication channels. As part of the legislative changes, the FIA cybercrime wing must be dissolved and replaced with a stricter enforcement framework. According to the new rules, individuals who share exude material from parliamentary or provincial assemblies on social media may be subjected to imprisonment of up to three years along with a fine of RS2 million.
Read: Provinces made party for case against PECA changes
“Journalists are subjected to legal matters, harassment and threats under the PECA Act,” Federation said, adding that Pakistan’s government is signing to international conventions such as those in the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the United Nations obliging it to protect the fundamental rights.
IFJ noted that the recent changes to PECA have given the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) powers to act without a formal complaint – a trait it warns could be used to dampen dissent and target journalists arbitrarily.
“These powers pose a serious risk of suppressing independent journalism and freedom of expression,” the letter said, calling on the supreme court to order the government to change the law in consultation with PFUJ and other relevant stakeholders.
The union also expressed concern about the circumvention of high courts through direct appeals to SC and called it a “circumvention of the legal process.”
In his letter, IFJ reported that at least seven journalists have been killed in Pakistan in the past year, without perpetrators convicted in cases involving attacks or threats. The latest freedom of press reported, it said, documented 34 violations, including physical abuse, harassment, online hate campaigns and threats.
Read more: Back to the cave: Where does Peca take us?
Media workers, said IFJ, also face systemic challenges such as non -payment of wages, illegal redundancies and significant security risks. Furthermore, legal barriers to trade union are reinforced by recent state law and undermine the rights of workers.
“Media professionals are deprived of the right to unite, and they do not have access to justice in the courts,” the letter reads.
IFJ revealed that it has sent two actual fine missions to Pakistan, where representatives met with journalists, media owners, PFUJ management and human rights lawyers. The union said it supports PFUJ’s ongoing legal efforts, including a petition filed in Islamabad High Court, which is still awaiting a final decision.
Underlined by the situation with the situation, IFJ appealed to Chief Justice to immediately initiate an extensive legal review of PECA, especially the changes that give swept powers to the FIA.
“Immediate action must be taken to protect the freedom of press under Article 19 of the Constitution,” concluded federation.
