After NA, controversial Peca tweaks sail through Senate

Despite protests from the opposition benches, the Senate on Tuesday adopted the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Peca) (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill 2024, which aims to create a digital society, economy, and governance.
Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain introduced the Peca bill in the Upper House of Parliament.
According to Hussain, the Peca bill was designed to address the problems on social media. He promised that it wasn’t aimed at newspaper and television journalists.
According to the minister, the opposition was also working on the measure using the platforms of the Senate and National Assembly standing committees.

Regarding the Peca changes, Aimal Wali of the ANP claimed that the law was harsh since it restricted free expression. He declared, “The bill smells of boots,” and he and the other members of his party left the House.
However, when the bill was put up for passage, reporters also left the Senate gallery.
Shibli Faraz, the Senate’s leader of the opposition, claimed that although it was their responsibility to enact laws, they were being passed without consulting anyone. “They should have consulted those concerned with the Peca amendment bill.”
Kamran Murtaza, a member of the JUI-F, claimed that the standing committee report was lacking because the committee had not approved nor rejected his suggested changes to the Peca Act.