Islamabad, May 23, 2026 — More than 600 reporters and media workers from across Pakistan gathered for a National Journalists Convention to condemn recent amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016 and to press for stronger legal protections for the press. The event, co-hosted by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ), produced the “Islamabad Declaration,” a unanimous statement denouncing the changes as a draconian tool aimed at silencing dissent and tightening state control over media.
Delegates — including a significant number of women journalists and representatives from multiple regions — said authorities had broken earlier assurances that Peca would not be used against members of the press. They accused the government of increasing judicial harassment of journalists: imposing travel curbs, arbitrarily offloading reporters from flights, and using intimidation tactics that foster fear among media professionals.
The convention also raised alarm at widespread layoffs in electronic media, arguing these job cuts form part of a deliberate effort to weaken independent outlets and push editorial conformity. Participants criticised growing reliance on third-party hiring arrangements that they say circumvent labour protections, wage board rules, and employee rights. They further condemned the denial of basic benefits — health insurance, gratuity, and EOBI coverage — and the use of state advertising as leverage to influence newsroom decisions.
The Islamabad Declaration demanded the unconditional withdrawal of all cases brought against journalists under Peca and urged parliament to review and amend media-related laws that conflict with Article 19 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression. The report is based on coverage by Dawn and was distributed via ANI.
