Journalists Rally Against Controversial PECA Law in Pakistan

Journalists across Pakistan continue to protest the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act (PECA), denouncing it as an infringement on media freedom. Nationwide rallies, symbolic hunger strikes, and legal challenges highlight the widespread resistance led by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) against the controversial legislation.

For a consecutive day, journalists have protested against the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act (PECA) following the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists' (PFUJ) appeal. Numerous legal cases have been filed in the High and Supreme Courts contesting the law as an infringement on media freedom, reported The News International (TNI).

The plea by PFUJ, quoted by TNI, accuses PECA of being unconstitutional and illegal, demanding a judicial review by the Islamabad High Court. Journalists across the country have staged rallies and symbolic hunger strikes to oppose what they see as the government's attempts to suppress free speech.

TNI highlighted the Balochistan Union of Journalists' (BUJ) symbolic hunger strike outside the Quetta Press Club against the law. The BUJ firmly stated, as reported by TNI, that they will not allow any curb on freedom of expression. Meanwhile, the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) has set up a hunger strike camp at the Karachi Press Club, entering its second day amid support from human rights organizations, attorneys, and civil society.

The event, running daily from 11 AM to 5 PM, aims to sustain its protest against the law. Similar demonstrations by the Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) Talagang-Chakwal Unit showed the nationwide discontent. As reported by TNI, protesters chanted slogans against the PECA legislation, amplifying their resistance.