The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the arrest orders for 150 journalists, including Asif Bashir Chaudhry and Harmeet Singh, under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. PFUJ leaders, President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari, have demanded the immediate revocation of these orders and urged authorities to uphold journalists' rights.
The PFUJ criticized the arrests as an attack on press freedom and called for a thorough investigation into the matter. They emphasized the need for proper legal procedures when dealing with accusations against journalists. The union expressed support for the affected journalists and reaffirmed its commitment to defending their rights.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has filed cases against Chaudhry and Singh, accusing them of creating a false narrative and inciting violence through tweets posted between November 24 and 27. These cases are filed under Sections 9, 10, 11, and 24 of PECA 2016, which include severe penalties for offenses like glorification of an offense, cyber terrorism, hate speech, and cyber stalking.
Pakistan has a history of low rankings in freedom of expression, particularly concerning press freedom.
PFUJ stands for Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists. It is an organization that represents journalists in Pakistan and works to protect their rights and freedom.
Asif Bashir Chaudhry is a journalist in Pakistan. Journalists are people who report news and information to the public.
Harmeet Singh is another journalist in Pakistan. Like Asif Bashir Chaudhry, he reports news and information to the public.
PECA 2016 is a law in Pakistan that deals with crimes committed using electronic devices, like computers and phones. It includes rules about what people can and cannot do online.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is a government agency in Pakistan. It investigates serious crimes, including those related to technology and the internet.
Press freedom rankings show how free journalists are to report news in different countries. A low ranking means journalists face many challenges and restrictions.
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