PECA comes into force as govt issues gazette notification
Pakistan
The law ministry also issued the gazette notification of Digital Nation Bill 2025
President Asif Ali Zardari swiftly approved bill after passage from National Assembly and Senate
Law entails Rs2 million fine or three-year prison for sharing fake news
Social Media Protection Tribunal will be established to hear cases related to online content
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Amendment Bill 2025 came into force as the government issued its gazette notification on Thursday.
The law ministry also issued the gazette notification of Digital Nation Bill 2025.
A day earlier, President Asif Ali Zardari approved both the bills after their passage from the National Assembly and Senate.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PECA
It has been proposed in PECA that the cybercrime wing of FIA would be dissolved while a new investigation agency would be constituted.
A fine of Rs2 million would be imposed for disseminating fake news.
A person would also be given three-year prison sentence for spreading fake news.
Also Read: President Zardari signs controversial PECA Amendment Bill into law
The section 37 of PECA deals with the illegal online content. The section will deal with any content against the judiciary, armed forces and Islam.
A Social Media Protection Tribunal will be established to hear cases related to online content. The federal government will appoint the members of tribunal for three years.
The tribunal will be required to dispose of cases within 90 days.
The tribunal will consist of six members and a chairman.
Three members of the tribunal would be appointed for three years while information secretary, PTA chairman and secretary of information technology would also be the members of the tribunal.
Read More: Journalists demand repeal of PECA hours after Senate passes bill amid outcry
According to PECA, a person will have to file his complaint with the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority within 24 hours.
Moreover, the media wouldn’t be allowed to publish the expunged content during the sessions of National Assembly and Senate.
The verdict of tribunal can be challenged in the Supreme Court within 60 days.
