Latest news with #FarooqHaider
Express Tribune
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
LHC questions PECA Act as journalists, politicians cry foul
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed authorities to submit by June 3 a detailed report of all First Information Reports (FIRs) registered under the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 (PECA). Justice Farooq Haider issued the directive while hearing a series of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of several provisions of the newly enforced PECA Amendment Act. Petitioners, including Rana Azeem, Secretary General of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and Malik Ahmad Bachar, Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, have argued that the amendments infringe upon fundamental rights and democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan. The petitions name the Federation of Pakistan, the Ministry of Interior, the Government of Punjab, and the Home Department as respondents. The petitioners have requested the court to declare the amendments null and void, alleging they are politically motivated and intended to suppress journalists and curtail freedom of expression. They contend that the PECA Amendment Act, 2025passed by both houses of Parliament and signed into law by President Asif Ali Zardarirepresents a dramatic expansion of government control over digital expression. As per the petitions, vague language and severe penalties in the law have fostered an atmosphere of fear and self-censorship, especially among journalists.
Express Tribune
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
LHC bench to hear petitions for local polls
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has constituted a three-member bench, led by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, to hear petitions seeking local government elections in Punjab within 90 days. Justices Farooq Haider and Tariq Nadeem will also be part of the bench. Jamaat-e-Islami, through its Lahore Region Ameer Ziauddin Ansari, filed a petition urging the court to direct the concerned authorities to conduct local government elections in Punjab. The petition names the Federation of Pakistan, the Punjab government, the Election Commission of Pakistan, the Punjab Provincial Election Commission, the Punjab Local Government Ministry, and the Chief Secretary Punjab as respondents. The petitioner contends that the delay in holding local body elections is unconstitutional and violates fundamental rights under Article 140-A of the Constitution. He argued that the failure to conduct elections undermines the spirit of the 18th Amendment, which devolves power to local governments, and deprives citizens of their right to grassroots governance. He further stated that the Punjab government's inaction violates principles of transparency, accountability, and participatory democracy, adversely affecting governance and local development. Jamaat-e-Islami maintains that as a party committed to upholding constitutional and democratic values, it has the responsibility to safeguard the public interest and democratic rights of the people.
Express Tribune
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
LHC seeks response on PTI's plea for rally
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has sought a response from the Punjab chief secretary and Deputy Commissioner Lahore by March 20 regarding a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seeking permission to hold a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan on March 22, 2025. Justice Farooq Haider issued the directive while hearing a plea filed by PTI's Senior Vice President (Central Punjab), Akmal Khan. During the proceedings, Khan's counsel, Advocate Khurram Latif Khosa, argued that the provincial government was making baseless excuses to deny PTI's request. He contended that despite submitting an application to the relevant authorities, the government had resorted to delaying tactics, repeatedly invoking Section 144 - a restriction on public gatherings - which, he claimed, was only enforced when PTI sought to hold rallies. The petition named the Punjab chief secretary, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Lahore, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations, Commissioner Lahore Division, Deputy Commissioner Lahore, and other officials as respondents. The petitioner stated that he had requested permission from the deputy commissioner's office to organize a public gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan on March 22.
Express Tribune
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
LHC, IHC take up pleas against PECA
The Lahore High Court has sought replies from the PTA and the Punjab government on petitions filed by the PUJ and others challenging the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act 2025. During the proceedings, Justice Farooq Haider expressed displeasure over the non-submission of replies by the Punjab government and the PTA. However, the federal government had already submitted its response. The PTA's counsel requested additional time to file a reply. Granting the request, Justice Haider warned that if the PTA fails to submit its response by the next hearing, legal action will be taken. Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued notices to the respondents on another identical petition against the Prevention of Electronic Crime Amendment Act 2025 (PECA 2025). The court also summoned Attorney General of Pakistan for assistance in the case on next hearing. Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas of the IHC heard the petition against the PECA Amendment Act filed through lawyer Adil Aziz Qazi. The court noted that there are other similar petitions pending before the court. The court issued notices to the parties and adjourned the hearing till April 17. The petitioner has named ministries of information, law and justice and others as respondents in the case. It may be mentioned that the identical petitions of PFUJ, Islamabad High Court Journalists Association and others against the PECA Amendment Act are also under hearing at high court. (More input from APP)
Express Tribune
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
LHC summons Punjab govt, Pemra officials on PECA pleas
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday summoned representatives from the Punjab government and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) regarding petitions filed against the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2025. Justice Farooq Haider presided over the hearing, where the federal government submitted its responses to the petitions. However, the Punjab government and PEMRA failed to provide their replies, drawing the court's criticism, Express News reported. During the proceedings, a lawyer representing the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) requested additional time to submit their response, but Justice Haider warned that the law would take its course if the court's queries remained unanswered by the next hearing. The court adjourned the hearing until March 13, 2025. The government strengthened Peca with new amendments to tackle fake news and unlawful online content. The proposed Electronic Crimes Prevention (Amendment) Act 2025 introduced severe penalties, including up to three years in prison and fines of Rs2 million for spreading disinformation. Last week, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the original draft of the recent amendments to Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) was very strict, but his party suggested many changes to dilute it, Express News reports. In an interview after addressing the Oxford Union, the PPP chairman stated that the PPP has always been against the original draft of Peca law, adding that former prime minister Imran Khan was the first to try such a harsh legislation.
