The Lahore High Court has issued notices to the federal government and other parties on another petition to declare PECA Amendment Act 2025 null and void.
Lahore High Court Justice Farooq Haider heard another petition to declare PECA Amendment Act 2025 null and void. The petition was filed by the Federal Union of Journalists through Raja Riaz. The court accepted the petition for preliminary hearing. Notices were issued to other parties including the federal government.
The Election Commission and PTA, including others, have been made parties in the petition filed. Shahbaz Akmal Advocate took the position that last week the National Assembly passed the bills related to PECA amendment. To pass the PECA bill, the assembly suspended its rules and fast-tracked it 6 times. Under the PECA Amendment Act, fake information will be punished with 3 years in prison and a fine.
According to the petitioner, PECA has been used as a silent weapon in the past. The addition of new penalties in the PECA Amendment Act will destroy even the slightest freedom left in the country. 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 guaranteed in the Constitution. The PECA Amendment Act is unconstitutional and contradicts the protection of freedom of expression guaranteed in the Constitution.
The petitioner requested the Lahore High Court to declare the PECA Amendment Act unconstitutional and null and void. The court should make the proceedings under the PECA Act subject to the final decision of the petition.
