Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration has been urged by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) to make sure that the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 is freely discussed in the Senate after the ruling coalition destroyed it in the National Assembly.
Concerned about the focus on “fake or false news” in Section 26-A of the bill, the HRCP bemoaned that the draft did not adequately define “fake news” and warned that if the bill is passed, it could be used to target journalists, human rights defenders, and political workers for criticizing state institutions.
The declaration follows the lower house’s approval of very contentious revisions to an already controversial law on Thursday, which sparked a fierce backlash from journalists and the opposition.
