• March 6, 2025
• Freedom of Expression, News Archives, Print Media

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) is deeply concerned by the federal, Punjab, and Sindh governments’ decision to stop providing advertisements to Dawn, Pakistan’s leading English newspaper. The withholding of advertisements is an alarming tool the government has decided to use to strangle the publication financially and send it a message of the consequences of fearless, honest, […]

• March 4, 2025
• Freedom of Expression

Attending by politicians, journalists, academics, and lawyers, on March 1, the Karachi Press Club (KPC) held an Azadi Convention against the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Amendment Act 2025. At the outset of the convention, senior journalist Mazhar Abbas likened it to martial law, emphasizing that it was designed to control the right to information rather than address fake […]

• March 4, 2025
• Freedom of Expression

On March 1, police forcibly entered the Quetta Press Club (QPC) premises and detained candidates who had gone inside the press club for a press conference to protest delays in their appointment letters after appearing in recruitment tests for jobs in the Balochistan Education Department. Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) is alarmed by the decision of the police […]

• March 4, 2025
• Freedom of Expression

On February 26, the Lahore High Court (LHC) issued notices to the federal government and other respondents in a petition challenging the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act 2025. The petition, filed by Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ-Workers) President Ziaullah Khan Niazi via his counsel Barrister Haris Bhatti, was heard by Justice Farooq Haider. The counsel argued that […]

• February 25, 2025
• Freedom of Expression

On February 17, Acting Chief Justice Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) took up a petition filed by the IHC Journalists Association (IHCJA) against the recently passed Prevention of Electronic Crimes  Amendment Act (PECA) 2025. The petition was filed by newly elected IHCJA President Hussain Ahmed Chaudhry and General Secretary Raja Shehzad. […]

• February 18, 2025
• Freedom of Expression, General News

On February 11, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) heard a petition challenging the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act (Peca), 2025, and sought the assistance of the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP).  On February 6, PFUJ President Afzal Butt, through Advocate Imran Shafique, filed a petition before the IHC arguing that the amendment law infringes on press […]

• February 18, 2025
• Freedom of Expression, General News, Information Technology

On February 14, the government successfully prevented a Senate resolution opposing the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2025 amendments by raising a quorum issue just before the debate. This led to the session’s adjournment. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar pointed out the quorum shortfall, preventing further discussion. The resolution, tabled by Senator Aon Abbas […]

• February 11, 2025
• Freedom of Expression

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) is concerned by the threats issued to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) co-chair and anchorperson at Aaj TV, Munizae Jahangir. In the wake of the threats, Civil society organizations, advocacy groups, and media bodies have condemned the threats to Jahangir. In a statement, the Network of Women Journalists for Digital Rights condemned the “vile and […]

• February 10, 2025
• Freedom of Expression

The Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 (PECA) is facing multiple legal challenges, with petitions filed in the Supreme Court, Islamabad High Court (IHC), Sindh High Court (SHC), and Lahore High Court (LHC). On February 4, a petition was filed by citizen Muhammad Qayum Khan in the Supreme Court seeking the court to “immediately strike down” the amendment […]

• February 10, 2025
• Freedom of Expression

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting decided to establish a sub-committee to engage with journalists and address their concerns regarding the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The decision was announced during a meeting of the committee chaired by MNA Phullain Baloch. announced that the sub-committee will assess the issues raised by […]

• February 4, 2025
• Freedom of Expression

On January 31, the Lahore High Court (LHC) rejected a request for the immediate suspension of the implementation of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act 2025 (PECA). While issuing notices to the concerned parties and requesting their response within three weeks, the court said that they would make a decision after hearing the arguments of all parties. […]

• January 30, 2025
• Freedom of Expression

President Asif Ali Zardari signed the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill 2025 (PECA) into law on January 29 despite strong opposition from journalists and media bodies. A press release from the presidency confirmed that along with PECA amendment bill, the president signed the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill and the National Commission on the Status of Women (Amendment) Bill. The amendments, approved by the […]

• January 28, 2025
• Freedom of Expression

Amid opposition protests and a walkout by journalists from the press gallery, on January 28, the Senate passed the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) Amendment Bill, 2025, and the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill, 2024. Both bills had been passed earlier by the National Assembly on January 23 and now await the president’s assent to become law. […]

• January 28, 2025
• Freedom of Expression

Different political parties’ leadership have opposed the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025, passed by the National Assembly on January 23. On January 26, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan opposed the amendments, expressing grave concerns over press freedom and the lack of consultations. Addressing a press conference in Karachi, JI Emir Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, while acknowledging the need to combat fake news, stressed that […]