After being passed by the Parliament, the Digital Nation Bill and PECA Act Amendment Bill 2025 have been sent to President Asif Ali Zardari for signing, however, he has decided not to sign the bills until the journalists’ suggestions are received.
According to sources, these bills have been sent to the President of Pakistan by the Senate Secretariat, and after presidential approval, both bills will become official laws.
It should be noted that during the approval PECA Amendment Act 2025 in the National Assembly and in the Senate, the opposition strongly opposed and protested, while journalists walked out during the proceedings of the Senate session. Later, journalists across the country protested against the bill.
The Parliamentary Reporters Association of Pakistan (PRAP) also protested on the parliamentary front against the PECA Amendment Bill. After which the President, on the request of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, stopped the bill for some time until the PRA’s suggestions were received.
As per sources, the President has accepted PRA Pakistan’s request not to immediately sign the bills.
It should be noted that Senator Afnan Ullah of the ruling Muslim League Nawaz has hinted that the government is ready to revise the bill in light of the suggestion of the journalist body.