- The draft amendments propose a jail term of three years and a fine of Rs 2 million.
- Authority to be established with the power to remove online content.
- The project also proposes social media protection courts.
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has tabled amendments to the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016 in the National Assembly, lowering the jail term from seven years to three years for “intentional dissemination of false information” .
According to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025, available with Geo Newsproposed changes include new definitions, the creation of regulatory and investigative bodies, and stricter penalties for spreading “false” information.
Last month, it was reported that the government was considering changes to the country’s cybercrime laws, including a five-year jail term or a fine of 1 million rupees for those found guilty of deliberately spreading false news.
According to the previous draft, spreading false information, inciting fear or disrupting the peace via online platforms could result in heavy penalties. Later, the jail term was increased to seven years and the fine to Rs 2 million.
However, the latest draft specified: “Anyone who intentionally disseminates, publicly exposes or transmits any information through an information system, which he knows or has reason to believe is false or untrue and likely to cause or create a feeling of fear, panic or disorder in the general public or in society shall be punishable with imprisonment of up to three years or with a fine of up to 2 million rupees or both.
The draft also proposes the creation of a Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority, with broad powers to block or remove online content deemed harmful to public security or state interests.
Furthermore, he said, anyone “aggrieved by false and false information” can approach the authority to remove or block access to such information and the authority will issue orders no later than 24 hours on request.
According to the draft, the authority should consist of a chairman and eight other members, including the secretary of the Ministry of Interior, the chairman of Pemra and the chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) or any member of the PTA. “The president and five members, other than the ex officio members, will be appointed by the federal government for a non-extendable period of years,” he adds.
The proposed amendments also said that the authority could require any social media platform to join in any manner, form and upon payment of prescribed fees.
He added that apart from the requirements of the law, additional conditions or requirements deemed appropriate could also be stipulated while registering on a social media platform.
The draft said the authority would have the power to issue directions to a social media platform to remove or block online content if it was against Pakistan’s ideology;
- incites the public to violate the law, enforce the law, coerce, intimidate or terrorize the public, individuals, groups, communities, government officials and institutions
- incites the public or part of the public to cause damage to government or private property
- coerce or intimidate the public or part of the public and thus prevent them from carrying out their lawful trade and disrupt civic life
- incite hatred and contempt on religious, sectarian or ethnic grounds to fuel violence or provoke internal unrest
- contains anything obscene or pornographic in violation of any applicable law
- is known to be false or false or there was sufficient reason to believe that it may be false or untrue beyond a reasonable doubt
- contains slander against any person, including members of the judiciary, the armed forces, parliament or a provincial assembly
- or encouraged and encouraged terrorism and other forms of violence against the State or its institutions.
Further, the bill proposed the constitution of a Social Media Complaints Council to receive and address complaints filed by aggrieved parties against violation of any provision of the Cybercrime Act.
New courts and investigative agency
The project also proposed the creation of social media protection courts. Each tribunal will consist of a chairman qualified to be a High Court judge, a journalist registered with a press club and a software engineer.
Courts must resolve cases within 90 days, with appeals to the Supreme Court allowed within 60 days.
Meanwhile, the bill also proposed the establishment of an investigative agency called the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to investigate, investigate and prosecute the offenses specified in this law.