• Amendments to Peca sail through Senate amid protests from opposition, journalists
• PTI leader says legislation will increase political victimisation; ANP sees hand of powers that be behind controversial tweaks
• Minister claims bill only aimed at social media as journalists stage walkout
• Digital Nation Bill, slew of measures to combat human trafficking also passed

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Tuesday okayed highly contested changes to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), without allowing any amendments to be moved, amid protests by the opposition and a walkout by journalists from the press gallery.

The controversial legislation is all set to become law and, since it has already been passed by the National Assembly, only requires the assent of President Asif Ali Zardari.

On Tuesday, Industries and Production Minister Rana Tanveer tabled the bill in the Senate on behalf of Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi. However, the opposition’s protest against the law started before the bill was moved.

Opposition members chanting slogans against the enactment of “black laws” gathered near the chairman’s podium, throwing torn-up copies of the agenda as Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar moved a motion seeking leave of the House to take the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill for immediate consideration.