689 FIRs registered under PECA, Senate Committee told

ISLAMABAD – The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting was on Wednesday informed that there are currently 689 FIRs registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) throughout the country including the 9 registered against journalists.

The committee was further informed that out of nine journalists, one has been arrested while seven are out of country. The committee directed the Ministry of Interior to provide detail of FIRs lodged against the journalists and their complete reason in the next meeting. The meeting of the committee was held under the chairmanship of Senator Syed Ali Zafar.

The committee received a detailed briefing from officials of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of Interior regarding the number and nature of cases registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), with a special focus on journalists, media professionals, digital content creators, and social media activists. The committee directed the Ministry of Interior to provide detail of FIRs lodged against journalists and complete reason in the next meeting.
The committee showed its concern over FIRs lodged against journalists under the PECA Act. The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting called for urgent action to address growing concern among media-persons regarding the FIRs and arrest of journalists.

The meeting was attended by Senators Sarmad Ali, Irfan-ul-Haque Siddiqui, Pervaiz Rashid, Jan Muhammad, Syed Waqar Mehdi, along with officials from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Finance and Revenue, and Ministry of Interior.

The committee discussed in detail “The Motion Picture (Amendment) Bill, 2024” introduced by Murtaza Solangi, the then Minister for Information and Broadcasting in the Senate in April 2024. During the meeting, the committee discussed whether or not specific powers should be granted to the proposed Board under the Bill. After deliberation, the Chairman of the Committee recommended that the relevant changes be incorporated into the draft bill and brought back to the Committee for further consideration for the next meeting review.

Earlier, the committee expressed serious concern and strong displeasure over the reported mistreatment of a media-person. The committee questioned why the concerned officer failed to appear before the Committee despite being summoned, and emphasized that such issues should be resolved without delay. Taking a firm stance on the matter, the committee recommended the suspension of the officer involved and called for a formal inquiry to be initiated against him. The committee reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the rights of journalists and media professionals and urged all authorities to handle such matters with the seriousness they deserve.
The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting discussed the long-standing issue of delayed salaries and pensions of Pakistan Television (PTV) employees. Secretary PTV informed the committee that while salaries and pensions are often delayed, efforts are being made to clear dues gradually. He said that PTV’s annual expenditure stands at Rs8.8 billion. The chairman of the committee expressed serious concern over the situation and remarked that even the security company hired by PTV has not been paid yet. He questioned how the organisation could ensure its own security if it fails to pay its guards.
Source; The Nation