Controversial cybercrime bill ‘PECA’ sails through Senate

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Tuesday passed the controversial cybercrime bill, PECA, amid protests by members of the opposition.

The bill was moved by Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain.

Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Shibli Faraz, spoke out against the bill, highlighting that the laws were made to protect people, while the purpose of said bill was “to target a specific political party.”

Originally passed by the National Assembly last week, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025, stipulates a three-year prison term for spreading disinformation, the dissolution of the FIA’s Cybercrime Wing, the establishment of a new investigation agency, and the creation of a new regulatory authority with extensive powers, including the ability to partially or fully block social media platforms.

To further ensure compliance with the revised legislation, the federal government will also create a Social Media Protection Tribunal. An ex-high court judge will preside over the panel, which also includes a software engineer and a journalist.

Within sixty days after the tribunal’s ruling, the decision can be appealed to the Supreme Court, as stated in the proposed change.