Journalists mount protest campaign against ‘black law’

Analytical Report | Jan 29, 2025

Controversial law seeks to silence critics of ‘civilian martial law’

Journalists chain themselves to symbolise the effects of the controversial PECA amendments | PHOTO: AFP

ON the call of their elected body, journalists mounted demonstrations across the country on Tuesday against what they termed “a black law aimed at silencing all critics of the overt and covert rulers of the country”. Members of opposition parties and the civil society vowed to support the journalists in their efforts to get rid of the law.

Speaking during demonstrations held outside press clubs in several cities of the country, senior journalists said the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025 is not the work of the civilian government but that of the “power that hides behind it”. During the rallies held in the federal and provincial capitals, they announced the launch of a “historic campaign against the ugly designs of the civilian martial law”.

Journalists protest against the bill outside the Karachi Press Club | PHOTO: AFP

“After imposing restrictions on the print media and then (through PEMRA) on the electronic media, curbs are now being placed on the digital media,” said a well-known journalist at the rally held outside the Karachi Press Club.

Similar speeches were made during a rally held in Islamabad, which was led by President of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Afzal Butt, who had called for protests across the country against the black law. Coincidentally, the Senate had passed on the same day amendments to the country’s cybercrime laws, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. The National Assembly had passed the bill a few days earlier.

The Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025 adds Section 26(A) to PECA, which seeks to penalise those who post “fake news” online. It says anyone who intentionally spreads, displays, or transmits false information that may cause fear, panic, or unrest in society could face imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of up to Rs2 million, or both. The bill now awaits the president’s assent to become law.

According to journalists, the new legislation can only be described as a ‘black law’, a law similar to those that were used by the British to silence leaders of the subcontinent during the independence movement. Resistance was offered to the British rulers then and similar is the situation now.

The bill, which was tabled in the parliament by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, aims to further regulate social and digital media; it also proposes the creation of a regulatory body and tribunal to oversee the media. It seeks to penalise perpetrators of “fake news” online.

‘Black laws’ were also used by military dictators Generals Ziaul Haq and Ayub Khan to silence their critics. The Pakistani media have earned the distinction of challenging such laws whenever they have been used to curb press freedom.

It’s because of this legacy that the PFUJ and allied unions have sprung into action now to defend freedom of expression in the face of objectionable measures that successive governments and establishments have insisted on taking since the country’s birth in 1947.

Let’s end this report with an anecdote about the late renowned journalist Nisar Osmani, whose story personifies the resilience of the Pakistani media. Mr Osmani was a senior office-bearer of the PFUJ when Gen Zia seized control of the country. He had subjected the journalists’ to all manner of restrictions and curbs, but not enough of them in his opinion were toeing the official line.

On top of that, the office-bearers of the PFUJ seemed utterly indifferent to what the authorities wanted the journalists to write and to avoid. So when the general spotted Mr Osmani at a press conference, he simply flew off the handle and let the veteran journalist have it. Gen Zia said to Mr Osmani: “You know that I can rope your hands and feet together and suspend you upside down.”

Mr Osmani, the consummate professional that he was, held his ground and replied: “I’ve heard threats like that before on these same steps… My colleagues and I have remained the same, but the man intimidating us, the man in your position, has been different each time.”

The late Nisar Osmani | PHOTO: Journalism Pakistan