Pakistan Targets Women Journalists Under Cybercrime Law

Pakistani authorities have come under sharp criticism after registering cases under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) against four women journalists, including the Secretary of the Islamabad National Press Club (NPC), for discussing a private dispute in a WhatsApp group. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) have strongly condemned the move, calling it arbitrary and a direct attack on press freedom.

The Federal Investigation Agency’s Cyber Crime Reporting Center filed a First Information Report on February 27, 2025, under PECA Section 21/1(d) and multiple provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code. The complaint, submitted by Nasir Khan Khattak, stems from a personal dispute with his partner, NPC member Salma Shahid. The FIR alleges that Shahid shared details of the disagreement in the ‘NPC Women Journalists Caucus’ WhatsApp group, which was created by NPC Secretary Nayar Ali. Alongside Shahid and Ali, group administrators Sehrish Qureshi and Mayra Imran were also named, while the case controversially implicates all 171 members of the group.

The Women’s Media Forum Pakistan described the FIR as an alarming attempt to intimidate women journalists and restrict their right to free expression and association. They pointed out that the FIA filed the case without giving the accused journalists an opportunity to explain their side.

Since its introduction in 2016, PECA has faced criticism from local and international rights groups for its sweeping provisions, which have often been used to target journalists, activists, and political opponents. Recent amendments passed in January 2025 have further widened the law’s scope, granting the government greater control over digital platforms and content, while raising concerns about shrinking online freedoms in Pakistan.

The PFUJ reiterated its opposition to the misuse of PECA, stating that filing criminal cases against journalists for private discussions was unacceptable. “PFUJ does not support filing cases under the controversial PECA. We urge the authorities to ensure justice,” the union said.

The IFJ echoed this call, stressing that journalists must never be criminalised for performing their professional duties or exercising their constitutional right to free expression. It urged the Pakistani government to repeal the law’s draconian provisions and prevent its use as a tool to silence dissent and undermine media freedoms.

This latest incident adds to a growing list of cases where PECA has been invoked to suppress criticism and regulate online spaces, raising pressing concerns about the safety of journalists and the state of press freedom in Pakistan.