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March 3, 2025 - Comments Off on Police book citizen under PECA for criticising Muslim clerics

Police book citizen under PECA for criticising Muslim clerics

Pakistani police filed a report under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) against a man accused of criticising muslim clerics regarding the start of the religious month of Ramadan/Ramzan. According to Maulana Abdul Ghaffar Quraishi, the imam who brought the situation to the attention of the police, he man, from the region of Mamashkhel in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had allegedly been derogatory on social media, and was also heard to have said that “the moon is of two days and the ulema of Bannu and Pakistan have deprived us (faithful) of the first fast”.

February 25, 2025 - Comments Off on Pakistan to consider a “National Crypto Council”

Pakistan to consider a “National Crypto Council”

A high-level government meeting chaired by the Pakistan government’s Minister for Finance and Revenue floated the possibility of creating a National Crypto Council” (NCC) to advise on the feasibility of cryptocurrency. The meeting, on financial security and potential impacts of digital assets on the Pakistani economy, discussed the possibility of establishing an NCC that would serve, according to TechJuice, as an

 “advisory body comprising key government representatives, regulatory authorities, and industry experts. This Crypto Council will oversee policy development, address regulatory challenges, and ensure that Pakistan’s digital asset ecosystem evolves in a secure, compliant, and sustainable manner. The Council will also collaborate with friendly countries to develop standardized frameworks for international digital economic engagement.”

February 25, 2025 - Comments Off on Supreme Court Bar Association, Journalists Call for Repeal of PECA Amendments

Supreme Court Bar Association, Journalists Call for Repeal of PECA Amendments

Senior journalists and members of Pakistan’s legal bar called for the repeal of recent amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), passing unanimous resolutions at the February 24th 2025 consultative meeting of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) in Islamabad, the nation’s capital. The resolutions, which condemned the passage of  “PECA Amendments 2025” and defended the right to freedom expression were as follows (as per reporting by Express Tribune):

"This consultative meeting condemns and disapproves the PECA (Amendment) Act, 2025, being defective legislation, considering it a violation of Article 19 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of speech and expression.

"This consultative meeting holds that the PECA (Amendment) Act, 2025, infringes upon the rights of media personnel as protected under Article 19 of the ICCPR, adopted by the United Nations and to which Pakistan is signatory". 

February 24, 2025 - Comments Off on Internet Shutdown in Balochistan During Protest Rallies

Internet Shutdown in Balochistan During Protest Rallies

Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a human rights organisation based out of Balochistan, has alleged that protests against the killing of Baloch youth have been hampered by authorities and that an internet shutdown had been implemented. The claim by BYC was made on Twitter/X:

“BYC Zehri and general public organized a protest rally. The rally started from Hospital road to Allah wala Chowk. However, the paramilitary forces (FC) and along with death squad members blocked the roads and hampered the rally to proceed forward. The internet was also shutdown in the entire area”, the BYC stated in a post on X.

Though NetBlocks.org have yet to confirm this particular shutdown, the province has been subject to several internet shutdowns by the authorities in the past, with the period beginning July 16  2024  and ending August 21, 2024 lasting for 864 hours. Activists and inhabitants of Balochistan have frequently protested about alleged human rights abuses in the province by the armed forces and authorities.

February 24, 2025 - Comments Off on Pak Telecommunication Authority approves two licenses for local VPN services

Pak Telecommunication Authority approves two licenses for local VPN services

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued two licenses to companies that allow them to provide VPN services in Pakistan. The “Class License” for the Provision of Data Services” was approved and issued to Zettabyte and Alpha 3 Cubic, as per TechJuice’s reporting.

As reported earlier, the local registration of VPNs is the PTA’s newest attempt to register and monitor the usage of VPNs by Pakistanis, after a proposed banning of unregistered VPNs was vetoed by the Ministry of Law in December 2024. The “Class License” is being offered by the PTA in order for companies to be able to operate legally in Pakistan, should they provide VPN and other proxy services.

February 16, 2025 - Comments Off on PECA Amendments threaten press freedom: Int’l Federation of Journalists head

PECA Amendments threaten press freedom: Int’l Federation of Journalists head

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called upon the Pakistani government to repeal the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). Meeting with members of Pakistan’s Federal Union of Journalists during their Federal Executive Council elections, IJF President Dominique Pradalié led a protest march against recently passed PECA Amendments, alongside PFUJ members its President and Secretary General. The PFUJ leadership also said that more protests wound be held by next week if the government, according to IFJ, “failed to commit to a platform benefiting journalists and media workers in Pakistan.”.

In a statement the IFJ said that:

“Journalists and media workers in Pakistan must enjoy their constitutional rights to free expression and press freedom. The IFJ continues to stand in solidarity with Pakistan’s media community in the wake of draconian amendments to the PECA, and urge authorities to repeal the legislation.

February 15, 2025 - Comments Off on Government blocks resolution against PECA Amendments

Government blocks resolution against PECA Amendments

The government of Pakistan blocked a resolution against the Prevention of Electronic Act (PECA) Amendments 2025, via calling attention to quorum at the last moment. The resolution was tabled by Senator Aon Abbas Buppi (PTI), who called on the government to review the law again and to remove provisions contradictory to human rights. The Law Minister brought to the Senate Chair’s attention that there was a lack of quorum in the House, confirmed by Acting Chairperson Senator Sherry Rehman’s ordering a headcount. The resolution stated:

“The House calls upon the government to immediately amend Peca 2025 to align it with constitutional rights and international standards, ensuring a balanced approach between digital governance and press freedom in Pakistan”.

Members of the opposition then met with Parliamentary Reporter Association representatives present in the Parliamentary Media Press Gallery and expressed solidarity. At this time, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) staged rallies across the country against the PECA Amendments.

February 14, 2025 - Comments Off on New submarine internet cables to expand Pakistan internet capabilities: Government

New submarine internet cables to expand Pakistan internet capabilities: Government

The expected deployment of new submarine cables – including Africa 1 and SMW6 (Southeast Asia-Middle East-Western Europe 6) is expected to expand and stabilise Pakistan’s internet capabilities, according to Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) sources. The new cables are to improve data and internet network resilience, sorely needed in a nation that has seen severely and near regular disruptions to internet use, whether caused by technical or maintenance factors.

February 12, 2025 - Comments Off on Biometric Verification to Include Facial Recognition, Iris Scanning: PTA

Biometric Verification to Include Facial Recognition, Iris Scanning: PTA

Biometric verification in Pakistan will be expanded to include facial recognition and iris scanning technology, according to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, as part of the National Registration & Biometric Policy Framework (NRBPF). The Framework initiative also includes Pakistan’s Ministry of IT and Telecoms (MoITT), cellular mobile operators, and the National Database and Registration Authory (NADRA), the latter being responsible for the collection and storage and management of biometric data.

February 12, 2025 - Comments Off on AI tool to track media gender bias launched

AI tool to track media gender bias launched

The media monitoring and advocacy Uks Research Centre (UKC) launched what it calls an AI tool that will identify gender bias in media content, “whether it’s hiding in plain sight or lurking between the lines”. As reported by Dawn, the AI tool scans texts for “glaring and subtle biases”, and developed along the Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) framework, deconstructing content through four key perspectives:

“clear stereotypes such as portraying women solely as caregivers, subtle biases such as consistently showing men as experts, neutral portrayals and content that actively challenged gender stereotypes.”

UKC developed the tool to offer “immediate, actionable feedback”, and targeted journalists, editors and reporters in particular.