Pakistan: PECA tightens grip as press freedom slips, dissent is silenced

Islamabad [Pakistan], May 1 : In troubling assessment released ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, Freedom Network has warned that the growing use of cybercrime legislation is posing a grave risk to media independence in Pakistan.

The report, titled Regulatory Repression of Freedom of Expression Legal Controls and Peca Undermine Media and Journalism in Pakistan, highlights how recent changes to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) have intensified pressure on journalists, forcing many into silence to avoid legal consequences, as reported by Dawn.

According to Dawn, the expanded scope of PECA has led to an atmosphere where self-censorship is increasingly common. Journalists face a combination of legal intimidation, defamation lawsuits, regulatory crackdowns, and even internet shutdowns, all of which significantly restrict the flow of independent reporting. The report further argues that state initiatives aimed at curbing misinformation and hate speech often come hand-in-hand with heightened surveillance and selective application of the law, raising concerns about misuse.

A major issue identified is the vague terminology used in defining "fake" or "fabricated" news, which creates ambiguity and allows authorities to blur the distinction between genuine reporting and dissenting opinions. This has made it easier to target journalists critical of official narratives, reported the Dawn.

Between April 2025 and March 2026, the Dawn documented at least 129 confirmed violations against media professionals. These incidents included two killings, multiple threats to life, 58 legal casesmost under PECAalong with assaults, harassment, and even cases of abduction. Regions such as Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were identified as particularly unsafe, while fatal incidents in Sindh and Balochistan further emphasized the nationwide risks.

The report also pointed to notable convictions of rights advocates like Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, suggesting that prison sentences are increasingly being used to discourage dissent.

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