Senate passes PECA Act; govt says PTI supported the bill in standing committees

ISLAMABAD: After National Assembly, today the Senate also passed the controversial PECA Act Amendment Bill. Similar to the lower house of the parliament, the opposition raised slogans in protest of the bill. Members of the Awami National Party (ANP) and journalists staged a walkout in protest of the bill as well.

Leader of the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Rana Tanveer said that social media is used to spread fake news, and therefore it needs to be controlled. He also called out the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on their protests, saying, “PTI approved the bill in the standing committees. Shibli Faraz [had also] supported the bill during his speech.”

Senator Tanveer added, “The PECA Act Bill will improve society.”

Senate committee approves controversial PECA Amendment Bill

PTI’s Shibli Faraz responded, “It is a lie that our party is supporting the PECA Act Bill. PTI is opposing the PECA Act.” He added that there is something wrong in the bill which is why the journalist community is protesting as well. “This bill has been made to suppress the opposition,” Faraz added.

Government allied, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) members also shared concerns with regards to the Act. PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said that her party does not consider the PECA Act good. “Stakeholders were not taken into confidence on the PECA Act. The PECA Bill was not discussed in the committee.”

She said that the PPP will sit with journalists. “Let’s bring amendments to the PECA Bill,” she said, adding that her party is trying to form a council in the PECA bill.

It is notable here that the bill passed through the Senate with the votes of both PML-N and PPP along with other members. Senator Rehman’s statement expressed alignment with her party’s belief, yet the passage of the bill shows that the government alliance collectively supported the bill.

SENATE COMMITTEE GAVE ITS NOT YESTERDAY

Prior to being presented in the Senate session, yesterday (Monday), the Senate Standing Committee on Interior approved the bill. The committee met under the chair of Faisal Saleem Rehman and passed the bill, which was presented today. The National Assembly had already approved the bill on January 23.

PECA AMENDMENT BILL

Under the amended Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 [PECA Act], the federal government has decided to set up a “Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA)” to regulate social media platforms. A National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and a Social Media Protection Tribunal (SMPT) will also be established under the amended Act.

The DRPA will have the power to remove online content. It will also have the power to access prohibited or obscene content. The authority will have the power to take action against those involved in sharing prohibited content.

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The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) will investigate cases related to cybercrime. After the establishment of the NCCIA, all cybercrime offices and cases of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will be transferred to the agency.

The Social Media Protection Tribunal (SMPT) hear cases related to social media, and is required to dispose of the cases within 90 days. The decision of the tribunal can be challenged only in the Supreme Court. The decision of the tribunal can be challenged within 60 days of its decision.