PECA: Journalists observe Black Day today

ISLAMABAD: Journalists across Pakistan will observe “Black Day” today on the call of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) to protest against the recently amended Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).

Black flags will be raised at press clubs and union offices nationwide, while protest rallies will also be held.

PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari criticised the government in a joint statement, reminding that the ruling party once championed press freedom while in opposition—just like past governments.

Butt expressed disappointment with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership, saying he had high hopes for Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, especially since Bilawal had previously spoken in favor of press freedom in parliament.

PFUJ leaders described the amended PECA as a tool for arrests and punishments without due process. They announced a “Press Freedom Movement” against the law, stating that this was not just a protest but a long-term struggle.

Butt said the movement had already begun and would continue until the amendment was repealed, including a sit-in outside Parliament House. He added that PFUJ was challenging the law in court, with legal experts reviewing its clauses.

Although the amendment’s immediate enforcement remains uncertain due to pending authority rules, Butt warned that the government’s swift approval suggested quick implementation.

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He said its impact would become clear in the coming days. The PFUJ also pledged legal and humanitarian support for journalists affected by the law.

The Journalists’ Joint Action Committee (JAC)—which includes the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), All Pakistan Newspapers Society, Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), and the Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND)—endorsed the PFUJ’s call for nationwide protests.