Journalist associations challenge PECA ordinance in IHC

ISLAMABAD: After former Lahore High Court bar president, different journalist associations of Pakistan have also challenged the recently promulgated Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act ordinance 2022 (PECA) in the Islamabad HIgh Court (IHC).

The challenged law has triggered protests from media bodies and civil society who have termed it a “draconian law”.

The journalists asoociations, including Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) and some senior journlists of the country have filed the petition through senior lawyer Munir A. Malik.

Cabinet clears proposal to increase legal age for marriage of women

The petitioners have stated in the plea that Section 2 and 3 of the presidential ordinance are contradictory to Articles 4, 9, 19, 19A and 89 of the Constitution of Pakistan that gives its citizens the right to know.

“The ordinance would become a source of promoting self-censorship […] President of Pakistan must have a valid reason to promulgate ordinances,” they mentioned in the plea.

The federal government through the Cabinet secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and Ministry of Law and Justice have been made parties in the plea that moves the high court to nullify the PECA ordinance.

PM launches Kamyab Pakistan Program to reduce poverty

After President Arif Alvi signed two ordinances making changes in the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, (PECA) 2016, and the Elections Act, 2017, on February 18, the Media Joint Action Committee (JAC) issued a statement to reject the ‘draconian amendments.’

The JAC, comprising PBA, APNS, CPNE, AEMEND and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) said that the amendments brought by the PTI government to PECA are a “blatant move to stifle the media independence, freedom of speech, and dissenting voices.”

The JAC will, if needed, oppose all such moves with the “full might of its constituent bodies and individual members.”

Stay tuned to Baaghi TV for more. Downlaod our app for the latest news, updates and interesting content!