Islamabad: (PPF) Journalists across Pakistan formally rejected the amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, labelling them a “draconian black law” intended to suppress the media. In a declaration, they demanded that the Parliament review all media laws inconsistent with Article 19 of Pakistan’s Constitution. The decision was announced at the conclusion of the National Journalists Convention on “Media Laws, Regulations, and Ethics” held in Islamabad. 

The convention, organised by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) and attended by over 600 journalists and media workers including women, resulted in the issuance of the “Islamabad Declaration.” This declaration criticised the government for purportedly violating its promise not to weaponise these laws against the press. 

The declaration said that an escalating campaign of judicial harassment against journalists and incidents of arbitrary travel restrictions had been observed, which they said created an environment of fear and intimidation. The declaration called for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all cases against journalists under PECA and said that a “transparent review” of the legal framework should be conducted to ensure that it isn’t used for political victimisation. 

The convention also expressed concern over the issue of retrenchments in the media sector, particularly in electronic media. The declaration accused media owners of bypassing wage board and national labour law obligations through third-party hiring. 

Additionally, the gathering criticised the government’s use of public advertising as a means of financial pressure to influence editorial content, highlighting Daily Dawn as a victim of such practices. 

Further demands included initiating the 9th Wage Board Award to cover all media including print, electronic and digital media. They demanded media houses provide health insurance and employment benefits for media workers without “discrimination or delay.” The convention urged media owners to prioritise the rights of their lowest-paid staff and to cease mass retrenchments. 

In a resolution, they called on provincial assemblies to enact journalist protection legislation similar to existing frameworks in other regions of the country. The resolution expressed “deep concern” that journalists continue to face attacks despite the enactment of the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021.