On August 6, the Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting expressed concern over registration of cases against journalists under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and directed the Ministry of Interior to provide complete details of the First Information Reports (FIRs) in the next meeting.
During the meeting, chaired by Senator Syed Ali Zafar, officials from the Ministries of Information and Broadcasting and Interior briefed the committee that a total of 689 FIRs had been registered under PECA across the country, including nine against journalists. It was informed that one journalist had been arrested while seven were currently abroad.
The committee called for urgent measures to address concerns among media professionals regarding FIRs and arrests. It recommended that the Ministry of Interior submit the complete reasons for the FIRs against journalists in the upcoming session.
The meeting also reviewed grievances of journalists raised by Senator Irfan-ul-Haque Siddiqui, particularly incidents of alleged mistreatment by police. The committee expressed displeasure over the absence of the concerned police officer despite a summons and recommended his suspension and initiation of a formal inquiry. It advised the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting to engage with journalists, Punjab Police, and relevant officials to seek an amicable resolution to the matter.
Lawmakers further discussed “The Motion Picture (Amendment) Bill, 2024,” introduced in April 2024, and deliberated on whether specific powers should be granted to the proposed board under the legislation. The chairman directed that the recommended changes be incorporated and presented again in the next meeting.
The committee also examined the long-standing issue of delayed salaries and pensions of Pakistan Television (PTV) employees. The PTV secretary said that although payments were often delayed, efforts were being made to clear dues gradually. The chairman expressed concern over the broadcaster’s financial condition, noting that even the security company engaged by PTV had not been paid.
Additionally, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar informed the committee that he would personally follow up on the alleged Rs1.24 billion embezzlement in the Associated Press of Pakistan’s provident fund and employee-related expenses. Responding to Senator Sarmad Ali’s question about the delay in lodging an FIR despite the misappropriation being identified over ten months ago, the minister assured that he would pursue the case for registration of the FIR against those responsible.
