Dhudial: The PECA Act is a draconian law and a vile conspiracy by the current government to suppress working journalists. We completely reject it and demand the government to immediately withdraw this black law. These views were expressed in a joint statement by President RIUJ Chakwal/Talagang Unit, Muhammad Riaz Anjum, and General Secretary Muhammad Ali Awan.
They further stated that the recent approval of the PECA Act Amendment Bill 2025 by the National Assembly and Senate, making it part of the law, has sparked widespread protests from the journalist community across the country. Pakistan’s largest journalistic organization, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), and its representative body, the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ), have outrightly rejected this law, calling it a draconian measure.
According to journalistic organizations, these very rulers, when in opposition, would tirelessly criticize the previous PTI government. Now that they are in power, they have passed this law to strangle journalists. If the current government does not withdraw this black law, we will launch a nationwide protest movement and stand shoulder to shoulder with our leaders, Afzal Butt and Tariq Ali virk.
