Zardari might have signed Peca bill under pressure: Fazl

ISLAMABAD: Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF), expressed his support for the journalist community regarding the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 (PECA) on Monday, suggesting that President Asif Zardari might have been under pressure when signing the bill into law.

Speaking to members of the Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA) at the Parliament House, Maulana Fazl stated that he would consult with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on the contentious legislation.

“The President was under such pressure that he signed the bill into law immediately,” the JUIF chief said, emphasizing the deep connection between journalism and politics. He reiterated his opposition to the amendments to PECA, stressing that the journalist community and their organizations should have been consulted before the law was enacted.

Maulana Fazl also discussed the potential consequences of accepting the government’s draft for the 26th Constitutional Amendment, suggesting it could have led to a martial law situation. He clarified that the JUIF had no personal interest in supporting the 26th amendment, as the bill had been reduced from 56 to 26 clauses to accommodate the party’s demands.

He expressed concern over the lack of state authority in some areas of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, highlighting the failure to maintain peace in those regions.

Further, Maulana Fazl criticized Pakistan's shifting stance on the Kashmir issue under international pressure, accusing the government of abandoning the Kashmiris. He also expressed worry about deteriorating relations with Afghanistan, with growing concerns about cross-border terrorism and Pakistan fighting a proxy war.

On the issue of religious seminaries, he pointed out that while politicians were involved in money laundering, madaris were being unjustly targeted with accusations of the same.

Maulana Fazl cautioned that if decisions continue to be made by the establishment, the country’s problems would only grow. He emphasized that the government must work collaboratively with politicians and not push the political system to the brink where no solutions are possible.

JUIF Senator Kamran Murtaza, addressing PRA members, also claimed that there had been a consensus on appointing Justice Mansoor Ali Shah as Chief Justice of Pakistan. However, he accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) of backtracking on the agreement, even though Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar was a witness to the discussions held in Jati Umra, Lahore. Senator Murtaza stated that it was the PMLN and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) who failed to honor the commitment, while JUIF remained firm in its stance.