Pakistan Journalists’ Union Condemns Cases Against Women Reporters Under Cybercrime Law

Islamabad M.Saleem Jutt— The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the registration of cases against four senior women journalists under the country’s cybercrime law, calling the move an attempt to silence dissent and restrict press freedom.

The cases were filed against Nayyar Ali, Sehrish Qureshi, Maira Imran, and Shakeela Jalil, along with administrators and more than 170 members of a women’s journalists’ WhatsApp group linked to the National Press Club.

PFUJ leaders Afzal Butt and Arshad Ansari said the action by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) amounted to harassment and intimidation. They demanded the immediate withdrawal of the cases and accountability for officials involved.

Rights groups have long criticized Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), describing it as a “black law” often misused to curb free expression. The PFUJ said in this instance, journalists were punished merely for discussing a harassment complaint.

The union urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to intervene, warning that failure to address the issue could trigger nationwide protests.

“The targeting of women journalists is an affront to basic human rights and an attack on press freedom,” the PFUJ said, reiterating its demand for the repeal of the PECA law.