In a strange move the mainstream government parties in the Senate thwarted the resolution against the amendments in Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) presented by the opposition Pakistan Tehreek i Insaf (PTI) – at the same journalists were threatening to hold a protest demonstration outside the Parliament if PECA was not withdrawn.
Senator Aon Abbas Buppi of the PTI presented a resolution against the PECA 2025 in the Senate session on Friday, but in a clever move Federal Minister for Law Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar of the PML-N drew the attention on the lack of quorum in the upper House and requested a headcount.
In response, acting Chairperson Senator Sherry Rehman who belongs to the PPP directed the Senate staff to conduct the count, and upon confirming the absence of a quorum, the session was adjourned.
The resolution demanded that PECA be revisited and all provisions contradicting fundamental human rights be removed.
The resolution asked the government to engage journalists’ unions, media organizations, and relevant stakeholders in the amendment process to ensure a balanced, fair, and democratic legal framework.
While rallies were taken out by the Pakistan Federal Union Journalists (PFUJ) against PECA amendments across the country on Friday.
The rally in the federal capital was held from the National Press Club to the start of the Red Zone.
Speaking at the rally the leaders of PFUJ and RIUJ while pointing towards the police personnel said that they will breach all barriers and reach parliament when the Sit-in will be announced.
The rallies marked the end of the third phase of protest drive against the amendments in PECA .
Addressing the gathering president PFUJ Afzal Butt said that the third was the three day token hunger strike to give final warnings to the government.
“Our next step is an indefinite sitin outside the Parliament – but I warn the government in clear words do not force us to hold this dharna because when we will come your rule might go.”
As announced earlier the PFUJ has started mass contact drive with civil society and trade unions to invite them to the sitin opposite the parliament.
Addressing the hunger strike camp veteran journalist Nasir Zaidi who was among the media persons awarded flogging as punishment during the martial law regime of Gen Zia.
Mr Zaidi said that previous PTI led government tried to clamp freedom of media through PMDA but they failed.
“This government is trying to please the establishment – but I tell you they will be the victims of this Draconian Law,” Mr Zaidi added.
Later the PFUJ has constituted a committee to prepare and analyse the amendments to the PECA 2025 on a clause-by-clause basis.
