National Assembly Passes Controversial Cybercrime Amendment Bill, PECA
The passage of this bill requires approval from the Senate before it can become law.

The National Assembly on Thursday passed the controversial amendment bill to the country’s cybercrime laws, known as the “Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025.”
“The Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025”, was tabled in the National Assembly a day ago by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and referred to the standing committee.
The proposed legislation introduces a new clause, Section 26(A), to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). This provision aims to penalize individuals responsible for disseminating “fake news” online.
It states: “Anyone who intentionally spreads, publicly displays, or transmits information through any information system, knowing or having reason to believe it is false and likely to incite fear, panic, disorder, or unrest among the public shall face imprisonment for up to three years, a fine of up to Rs2 million, or both.”
Key Features of the Amendment Bill
The proposed amendments introduce several stringent measures aimed at regulating online behaviour and curbing misinformation:
- Punishment for Disinformation: The bill stipulates that individuals who intentionally disseminate false information that could incite fear or unrest may face up to three years in prison and fines up to Rs 2 million.
- Creation of Regulatory Authority: A new authority, the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, will be established to oversee social media platforms. This body will have the power to enforce operational standards, delete illegal content, and impose penalties on non-compliant platforms.
- Dissolution of Existing Agency: The bill proposes the dissolution of the Federal Investigation Agency’s Cybercrime Wing, replacing it with a new National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) which will have police-like powers.
- Censorship Powers: The government will have the authority to censor content that contradicts national ideology or promotes lawbreaking. This includes provisions allowing state officials to remove content related to them.
- Social Media Protection Tribunal: A tribunal will be set up to handle compliance issues regarding social media regulations, comprising an ex-high court judge and other professionals.
This legislation has sparked significant opposition and protests, including a walkout by journalists from the press gallery during the proceedings.
The bill has faced backlash from various sectors, including civil society and the IT industry. Critics argue that it threatens free speech and could lead to excessive censorship. Concerns have been raised about the vague language in the bill that could be misused to suppress dissenting views.
Journalists and opposition members have expressed fears that these amendments may further restrict freedom of expression online.
The passage of this bill requires approval from the Senate before it can become law.
A day earlier, the National Assembly passed, “The Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (Implementation) Bill, 2024”. “The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2025” and “The Digital Nation (Amendment) Bill, 2024” were also introduced in the House.