Lahore: The High Court rejected the petition to stop implementation of provisions of PECA Amendment Act.
A case against the PECA Amendment Act was heard in the Lahore High Court, in which the court immediately rejected the petition to stop implementation of various provisions of the PECA Amendment Ordinance.
During the hearing, Justice Farooq Haider remarked that first the parties should present their positions and then they would decide. The court issued notices to all parties and sought their response within 3 weeks.
Advocate Nadeem Sarwar gave arguments on the petition filed by a journalist in the High Court.
It should be noted that the petition filed in the court, making the Election Commission, PTA and others parties, had taken the position that the National Assembly passed the bills related to PECA amendment last week. The assembly suspended its rules to approve the PECA bill and fast-tracked it.
According to the petitioner, fake information will be punished with 3 years of imprisonment and fine under the PECA Amendment Act. In the past, PECA was used as a silent weapon. The addition of new penalties in the PECA Amendment Act will also erode the little freedom left in the country.
The petition filed in the court further stated that the PECA Bill was brought without consulting the relevant stakeholders and journalistic organizations. The passage of the PECA Amendment Bill will severely affect the freedom of expression given in the Constitution. The Act is unconstitutional and contradicts the protection of freedom of expression given in the Constitution.
The court was requested to declare the PECA Amendment Act unconstitutional and declare it null and void and the court to make the proceedings under the PECA Amendment Act subject to the final decision of the petition.
