Aamna Aamna 
Pakistan’s parliament passed bold modifications to the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act, forming a social media monitoring body blessed with unprecedented authority to probe and penalize digital content. Imprisonment of three years alongside fines totaling two million rupees awaits those convicted of spreading information that authorities call “false or fake”.
Media professionals alongside journalist organizations remain vehemently opposed to the measures because Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented this legislation as essential to block misinformation. The president of the Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Afzal Butt criticized the administration’s unilateral decision because he believed law enforcement lacked the authority to decide what is fake news. A blockade of parliament remains the PFUJ’s last step in case the government fails to reverse the recently implemented media restrictions.
Social media restrictions implementing the new law face criticism from both Reporters Without Borders and digital rights activists due to Pakistan’s World Press Freedom Index position at 152. Recent media regulations demonstrate a rising risk that Pakistan will become an even more dangerous nation for media professionals according to the organization.
