Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Home passed a bill to amend the PECA Act, while the bill was opposed by journalist organizations.
The meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Home was held under the chairmanship of Senator Faisal Saleem, in which the Standing Committee on Home passed a bill to amend the PECA Act.
During the discussion on the PECA Amendment Bill, journalist organizations opposed the bill. The Chairman of the Committee raised questions from journalist organizations for not submitting their written recommendations. He said that journalist organizations should have kept their written recommendations in the committee.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui said in the meeting that there is no need for any law to handcuff someone in this country. I myself was arrested under the Tenancy Act.
During the meeting, Kamran Murtaza opposed the PECA Bill, however, the Senate Standing Committee on Home approved the PECA Amendment Bill.
In the meeting, the Home Secretary said that this law is for the protection of the people. The bill passed by the National Assembly will be passed in this manner.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui said that some amendments have been agreed upon in the meeting of journalists with the Information Minister. Does the Home Ministry want new amendments in the bill passed by the National Assembly?
The Anchors Association raised objections to the bill in the Senate Committee, saying that we were not given time to come up with suggestions on this bill. Journalist organizations said that there are many flaws in this bill. This bill will result in deterioration rather than improvement. The definition of fake news in the bill is very vague.
Journalist organizations took the position that we ourselves are victims of fake news, we support the law for fake news, but in the current situation, we do not accept the bill.