ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE: Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar stated on Friday that the administration was ready to discuss, if any, contentious clause in the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) law, The News reported.
Speaking to the media, Tarar said that the act was created to stop deepfakes and fake news on social media, and that the parliament thought legislation was required to stop social media abuse.
“This is a good law, it will be helpful in stopping the ongoing propaganda on social media,” he said, adding that there was always a way out for consultation and enhancement.
“What Peca clause is controversial? Let’s face it, we are ready for improvement. There is protest, but no one is talking about the clauses,” the minister stated.
While rules under the Peca Act had not yet been drafted, he noted that the Council of Complaints also had an appeal right. He claimed that after the Peca tweaks were approved by the parliament, the president signed it into law. He stated that while there was opposition to the legislation, nobody was talking about its provisions.
The minister stated that journalists associated with press clubs or journalistic organisations will be included in the Social Media Protection Authority, which will be composed after nominations from the private sector. Additionally, he also said that media persons and IT professionals had been incorporated in the tribunal and there was an immense clarity about the appeal as the tribunal was required to pass an order within 24 hours.
Tarar said journalists or a citizen could lodge a case against the order in the high court.
He maintained that the right to appeal existed in the Supreme Court as well, as its rules were yet to be made and there was a scope for consultation in it and all stakeholders would be taken along in the consultation process.
“When something is made, rules are also made for its implementation. We should move forward with the preparation and consultation of rules. If there is any controversial provision in this act, bring it to the fore. We are ready for discussion,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, talking with Shahzad Iqbal in Geo News Programme ‘Naya Pakistan’, Parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui said that journalists’ concerns on Peca Amendment Act, should have been seen. “I am with the journalists on this matter,” he said.
He admitted that the government had done it in a haste which should not have been. “I am saying this on record that the journalists should have been consulted, their concerns should be removed and where they think that things be corrected, it should have corrected,” he said.
He said that the law that was to be made with the consultation now became controversial.
