On March 10, the Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting held a detailed session, where it passed the Motion Picture (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and formed a subcommittee to examine the issue of First Information Report (FIR) registrations under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The session marked the committee’s first meeting since September 2025, following a hiatus after the resignation of Senator Ali Zafar and all PTI Senators from the standing committees.

The committee members unanimously appointed Senator Sarmad Ali as the chair for the meeting. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar attended the discussions, along with Senators Jan Muhammad Buledi, Syed Waqar Mehdi, and Mohammad Abdul Qadir. Senator Pervaiz Rashid participated via Zoom.

During the session, Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi requested clarification over the ongoing issue of FIRs being filed under PECA against journalists and the general public by police. It was noted that this practice was particularly prevalent in Punjab and Sindh. The committee said that while PECA cases fall under  the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), police were registering cases against journalists and the public.

The first meeting of the newly formed subcommittee is scheduled to take place after Eidul Fitr, involving key officials from the information, law and interior ministry, Senator Mehdi said.

In response to these concerns, the committee resolved to summon the Inspectors General of Police, Advocate Generals, and Prosecutor Generals from all provinces to discuss the matter further. A subcommittee, led by Senator Sarmad Ali and including Senators Waqar Mehdi, Jan Muhammad Buledi, and Pervaiz Rashid, was established to examine the issue.

Additionally, the committee addressed legislative matters, approving the Motion Picture (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which had been introduced by Murtaza Solangi, the then Minister for Information and Broadcasting. The Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting confirmed that all five recommendations previously made by the panel had been integrated into the bill.

The committee also considered the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2025, proposed by Senator Mohammad Abdul Qadir, which seeks to include a Member of Parliament on the corporation’s Board of Directors. However, this was deferred for further consultation with relevant divisions.