PESHAWAR: After country-wide protests, print and electronic media organisations on Wednesday challenged the “controversial” Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Amendment Ordinance 2022 in Islamabad High Court (IHC).
The petition was filed by Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) and Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors through senior lawyer of Supreme Court Munir Malik Advocate. The Pakistani media and journalist organisations as well as national and international human rights organisations have termed the amendment a “violation of constitutional rights of freedom of expression” in Pakistan.
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The Joint Action Committee of Journalists’ Associations and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) HAVE rejected the ordinance, expressing concerns over the government measures to curtail freedom of expression in the country. They’ve alleged that Ordinance was aimed to suppress critical and constructive voices. “Any amendment, law or ordinance which aims to suppress media freedom would be condemned at every forum,” the media organisations have said.
Earlier, the amendment was also challenged by the PFUJ [Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists] in Islamabad High Court (IHC). The petition has stated that the government had amended the PECA law through an ordinance when a day earlier, the Upper House was in session. The petition said that since the government had already drafted the amendment thus, it should have been presented in the senate for approval instead of issuing an ordinance.
Yesterday, after the Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), another government’s coalition party Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) has opposed the PECA amendment ordinance. Talking with a delegation of Media joint action committee, Punjab Assembly speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi asked for the immediate withdrawal of the ordinance. He said, “imposing any kind of restrictions on freedom of expression will be against Pakistan’s interest.”