The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, chaired by Senator Syed Ali Zafar, held a meeting to review the implementation of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
Senator Zafar ruled that 378 cases registered under PECA by provincial authorities were illegal and directed that they be withdrawn immediately. He emphasized that no citizen should be prosecuted unlawfully. To ensure compliance, the committee constituted a sub-committee to oversee the implementation of this ruling. Commenting on the misuse of PECA, Senator Zafar stressed that the law must not be used as a tool for censorship against journalists or the public. Referring to a report submitted before the committee, he noted that out of hundreds of cases registered under the category of “anti-state,” clarity was needed as to which genuinely concerned national security and which amounted to censorship.
“If someone commits an offence under the law, he should be prosecuted and punished, and the public fully supports that. But if criticism of government policies-for instance, pointing out inadequate flood response-is treated as an offence under PECA, that would be an abuse of the law,” Senator Zafar remarked. The Ministry of Interior informed the committee that none of the cases registered so far related to anti-state activities. Instead, they were linked to hate crimes, including incitement and sectarian violence.
Senator Zafar concluded by underscoring the need for a careful balance between protecting national security and safeguarding freedom of expression.