Media freedom is being undermined by the rise in surveillance and of authoritarian strongmen across the globe. PHOTO: AFPThe Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the media bodies have taken a tough stance against the government after the amendments in the Pakistan Electronic Crime Act (PECA) 2016, calling the government's engagement with the media bodies over media laws a “farce”. “The information minister [Fawad Chaudhry] is toying with the media fraternity in the guise of engagement and keeps passing ordinances against freedom of speech while giving the impression that media fraternity is being engaged,” the statement said. Separately, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) disapproved the amendments in the PECA and demanded immediate withdrawal of the ordinance. It had said that criticism of the proposed legislation has been declared non-bailable, which is undemocratic.

Source: The Express Tribune February 22, 2022 23:01 UTC