Pakistani journalists, opposition consider challenging new social media law in court 

In this file photo, Pakistani journalists and civil society activists hold placards during a protest in Karachi on Oct. 28, 2017. (AFP/FILE)
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Updated 21 February 2022
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Pakistani journalists, opposition consider challenging new social media law in court 

  • Law makes defamation on social media non-bailable offense, increases jail term to 5 years 
  • Many view the proposed legislation as a tool to silence critics of the government 

KARACHI: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and two major opposition parties on Monday said they were considering to move the court against a proposed law that criminalizes sharing “defamatory” and “fake” content on social media, but is widely viewed as a tool to silence critics of the government.
The government of Pakistan has previously tried to roll out new Internet rules that critics say will give the government wide powers of censorship. The government denies it wants to censor the press or political opponents.
The new ordinance introduces an amendment to section 20 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, which was passed by the former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government.
The new amendment increases the jail term for defaming any person or institution on social media from two years to five years, according to the Pakistani information minister. It makes it mandatory for courts to decide cases within six months, and has made the offense non-bailable.
Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain didn’t respond to requests for a comment despite repeated attempts.
PFUJ President Shehzada Zulfiqar said the new amendments were clearly aimed at suppressing the freedom of speech and press, which had already got setbacks over the last few years. “We will take every measure, including challenging this draconian law, in the court of law,” he said.
Zulfiqar said the new legislation would defame Pakistan, where the electronic media had already come under the control of the government. “The mainstream media has already been controlled by the government. It now wants to control the digital media.”
He said the PFUJ was not against legislation to deal with the issue of “fake news,” but this should be done in consultation with the stakeholders and only after all agree to it.
“We will consult bars, HRCP (Human Rights Commission of Pakistan) and the civil society for a joint struggle,” the PFUJ president said.
A PFUJ statement said it was “alarming” that instead of reforming existing laws to enforce constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and right to information, the laws were being amended further to make them more coercive, aimed at eroding these rights.
“All the stakeholders, including the media community and civil society have been agitating for and demanding withdrawal of black clauses in PECA 2016 that are against civil liberties and basic human rights ensured in both the UN charter and the constitution of Pakistan, but it appears that the government is now making the laws more regressive in the name of dignity and security of institutions,” it read.
The statement said it appeared the government was driven by “mala fide intentions” as the proposed amendments, especially without any parliamentary inputs, were “designed to further shrink the space for freedom of press and expression which is already deeply compromised as evinced by various media freedom indexes.”
Rizwan Bhatti, secretary of the Karachi Press Club, said the new law would be resisted.
“Journalists will not accept this draconian law, which is aimed at completely suppressing freedom of speech, but journalists across Pakistan will resist it like they have been fighting against censorship and black laws in the past,” Bhatti said.
Shazia Marri, a lawmaker from the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), called the legislation an “attack on our freedoms and human rights,” saying her party was considering challenging it in the court.
“PPP has constantly fought against tyranny and suppression. We believe the recent amendment to PECA law through an ordinance is yet another attempt to suppress the people of Pakistan,” she said.
“We are on record for opposing the PECA bill, but the PML-N was adamant to pass it. PECA law is already a black law that is being used to suppress dissent. This new amendment to PECA law is going to further allow government to go after their critics and people who disagree with their actions.”
Shehbaz Sharif, the PML-N president and opposition leader in the National Assembly, said the amendment to PECA, promulgated by a presidential ordinance, showed the real “fascist face” of the ruling clique.
“After imposing curbs on mainstream media, they are out to muzzle social media,” he said in a Twitter post. “But can they go against the currents of time? Can truth be hidden?“

Muhammad Zubair, a senior PML-N figure, acknowledged the passage of the PECA law by his party’s government was a “wrong thing.”
“I’m on the record to have said that we should not have brought this law in the first place,” Zubair told Arab News. “Prime Minister Imran Khan is also on the record. He opposed it when we brought it in 2016, but instead of abolishing it, his government is bringing draconian amendments to it.”
The PML-N leader said the proposed changes to the law would be used to “target” the opposition. Such an important law, which affects the entire population, should not be brought without a debate in parliament, he added.
“The PMLN strongly rejects it,” he added.


Pakistan PM offers condolences to China over deadly floods and landslides

Updated 5 sec ago
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Pakistan PM offers condolences to China over deadly floods and landslides

  • At least 30 people have been killed as torrential rains triggered devastation across northern China
  • Sharif says Pakistan has been facing similar challenges and stands in solidarity with Chinese people

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep condolences to China on Tuesday following a wave of deadly floods and landslides that have killed dozens and displaced thousands across northern regions of the country, including Beijing and Hebei province.

The message came as torrential rains overwhelmed parts of northern China, dumping record volumes of water, triggering landslides and forcing mass evacuations.

At least 30 people have been killed, according to Chinese state media, with more fatalities feared as rescue operations continue.

Beijing and surrounding provinces have witnessed some of their worst flooding in years, with entire villages cut off and widespread infrastructure damage reported.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives and displacement caused by the recent torrential rains and landslides in China,” Sharif said in a statement posted on social media. “On behalf of the people of Pakistan as well as on my own behalf, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and all those affected.”

Sharif noted that Pakistan itself has suffered from extreme weather in recent years and understood the hardship faced by Chinese communities.

“We fully understand and empathize with the hardship that our Chinese brothers and sisters are enduring,” he added. “We are confident that the resilience and unity of the Chinese people, under the resolute leadership of President Xi Jinping, will see them through this difficult time.”

Sharif said the people of Pakistan stood in solidarity with the people of China, adding they were “bound together through thick and thin, in the spirit of iron clad brotherhood.”

China and Pakistan share a longstanding strategic partnership, with close cooperation in defense, infrastructure, and economic development.

Beijing has invested tens of billions of dollars in Pakistan through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative to enhance regional connectivity.


Pakistan launches digital payment service at train stations in modernization push

Updated 18 min 12 sec ago
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Pakistan launches digital payment service at train stations in modernization push

  • ATM machines, POS systems will be installed at 348 train stations nationwide, minister says
  • These systems will modernize ticketing, simplify payments and improve financial transparency

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi on Tuesday announced the launch of digital payment services at several train stations across the country, marking a significant milestone in the department's modernization efforts.

The announcement follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Pakistan Railways and Allied Bank Limited in June to launch Point of Sale (POS) systems at 348 railway stations across the country.

The installation of POS systems aims to modernize ticketing, simplify payment procedures and improve financial transparency within the railways department, according to Abbasi.

"POS machines have started their work at some stations," he told reporters at the ceremony in Lahore. "God willing, we will be installing ATM machines and POS systems in 348 stations."

Train passengers will now be able to purchase tickets and access other railway services using debit and credit cards, according to the minister.

The POS systems are expected to enable faster and more efficient transactions, eliminating long queues and manual procedures. The initiative will also help Pakistan Railways boost revenue while curbing financial fraud, theft and accounting errors.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the ceremony as the chief guest and praised the efforts of both the current and former management of the railways department.

In 2024, Pakistan Railways achieved a 40% revenue increase to Rs88 billion, according to Pakistani state media. The department added 229 new wagons, introduced 10 new trains, and enhanced passenger services with increased coach capacity and premium lounge dining cars.

Alongside the latest initiative, Abbasi said, the department would also ensure improved inspection and stronger staff presence.

 

 


Pakistan moves to draft first esports policy with UK and Commonwealth support

Updated 35 min 32 sec ago
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Pakistan moves to draft first esports policy with UK and Commonwealth support

  • IT minister says Pakistan has strong gaming talent but faces bottlenecks in commercialization and global market access
  • Government aims to support esports through training, youth-led funding and assistance in bringing local games to market

KARACHI: Pakistan is taking initial steps toward developing its first national esports policy and has sought support from the British Esports Federation and Commonwealth Secretariat to help shape the effort, the country’s IT minister said on Tuesday.

The remarks came after a meeting between Pakistan’s Ministry of IT and Telecommunication and representatives from the British Esports Federation and Commonwealth Secretariat. The collaboration aims to guide the policy’s development and support the formation of a national esports federation.

“We have immense young talent [but] commercialization is the bottleneck,” Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said during the meeting, according to an official statement released later. “We seek your support to help Pakistani developers reach international markets.”

While Pakistan has a growing number of young game developers, some already publishing on platforms like SEGA and Nintendo, most lack access to funding, publishing infrastructure or export pathways.

The statement said the development of a national policy is aimed at formally recognizing esports as an economic sector and unlocking its potential as a structured platform for youth-driven innovation and employment.

The policy under development includes a strategy focused on training in game-tech, youth-led funding schemes and support for bringing locally developed games to market.

Officials said the policy will be shaped using international best practices and aligned with Pakistan’s wider goals for youth engagement and digital innovation.

Pakistan considers IT a priority sector in its broader economic strategy, hoping to boost digital exports, reduce youth unemployment and build global partnerships in creative tech.

The inclusion of esports in this agenda reflects a shift toward recognizing digital entertainment as a viable economic contributor.


Pakistan’s crackdown on black market dollar trade pushes deals online

Updated 29 July 2025
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Pakistan’s crackdown on black market dollar trade pushes deals online

  • Many unlicensed exchange shops have been shut since July 22, when the military spy agency summoned representatives to explain dollar surge
  • Since the crackdown began, the Pakistani rupee has rebounded and firmed from Rs288.6 per dollar on July 19 to about Rs286 in recent sessions

KARACHI/PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s crackdown on black market dollar trading has strengthened the rupee, but traders say under-the-counter deals have swiftly shifted to smartphones and home deliveries instead.

Many unlicensed exchange shops have been shut since July 22, when the military spy agency summoned representatives of the sector to explain the US dollar’s rising cost in the open market. Soon after, raids were carried out by the Federal Investigation Agency, which tackles financial crime and smuggling.

Since the crackdown began, the rupee has rebounded from a sharp fall against the dollar earlier in July. In the open market, it firmed from 288.6 per dollar on July 19 to about 286 in recent sessions.

But traders and bankers say the trade continues, suggesting the crackdown’s effects could be short-lived.

The black market operates outside official channels and includes unlicensed dealers, personal networks, and digital peer-to-peer exchanges, with customers seeking to skip tax declarations, avoid burdensome paperwork and bypass limits on official currency purchases.

In Peshawar, a city near the Afghan border long known for black market currency deals, many shops in the historic Chowk Yadgar district remain shuttered, though some traders were still operating discreetly in back-alley booths.

“The trade didn’t stop. It just moved,” said Ahmad, a dealer whose family has been in the business for generations. “Now it’s on WhatsApp. If you know someone, the dollars come to your house.”

“The big players have shifted to safer locations and kept going,” said another trader, Gul. Both traders asked not to give their full names.

Even retail buyers are bypassing the formal foreign exchange market. Hassan, a manager at a multinational firm in Karachi, said stricter documentation drove him to an informal forex chat.

“Everyone there is a buyer or seller. No middleman, no commission. Sometimes it’s physical cash, sometimes bank transfers, sometimes crypto,” he said.
STRICTER FX DISCIPLINE

On Monday, Pakistan’s central bank called in bank treasury heads to address pressure on the rupee. Two bankers said they were told to stop buying dollars from exchange companies at above-official rates on the grounds it was skewing the market.

Banks were asked to rely on their own inflows from exports and remittances, but both sources have slowed. Exporters are delaying bringing money home, betting the rupee will weaken. Remittances are also tapering off as banks reduce incentives once offered to attract overseas inflows.

Authorities also pressed banks to keep the gap between the interbank rate and the open market rate narrow, a condition of Pakistan’s $7 billion IMF deal meant to discourage speculation.

“These meetings have been happening for years, but this one was more pointed,” one banker said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The central bank is expected to cut rates on Wednesday, easing inflation but risking pressure on the rupee.​


Father among nine people arrested in Pakistan over suspected ‘honor killing’

Updated 29 July 2025
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Father among nine people arrested in Pakistan over suspected ‘honor killing’

  • Sidra Bibi, 18, was killed on the orders of a local council of elders in Rawalpindi after she married a man of her choice, police say
  • At least 405 women were killed in 2024 in such cases, compared with 226 in 2023, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan

LAHORE: The father and the ex-husband of an alleged “honor killing” victim are among nine people arrested in eastern Pakistan in connection with the young woman’s death, police said.

Police said Sidra Bibi, 18, was killed on the orders of a local council of elders in the garrison city of Rawalpindi after she married a man of her choice.

Some of her relatives are alleged to have buried her body and flattened the land to erase evidence of a grave, police official Aftab Hussain said Monday. The victim was suffocated using a pillow placed over her face, he added.

The arrests came after authorities exhumed the body and carried out an autopsy, which confirmed she had been tortured before being killed.

The case has drawn widespread condemnation in a country where honor killings are still common.

The independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said 405 women were killed in 2024 in such cases, compared with 226 in 2023.

“The actual number is believed to be higher due to underreporting,” said Sadia Bukhari, a member of the commission’s council.

Honor killings, in which family members kill women for actions perceived as bringing shame to the family such as choosing their spouse, have increased in recent years.

Earlier this month, police in southwestern Balochistan province arrested 11 suspects after a video shared online appeared to show a young couple being fatally shot for marrying without their families’ approval.

Police confirmed the authenticity of the footage, saying the killings happened in the Deghari district in the province of Balochistan.

In January, police arrested a Pakistani man suspected of killing his US-born 15-year-old daughter for refusing to stop posting videos on TikTok, a platform with more than 54 million users in the country.

“These so-called honor killings reveal a deep-rooted mindset that views women as the property of men,” Bukhari said. “Most women in Pakistan face discrimination from childhood through adulthood.”