Latest news with #LAHORE
Express Tribune
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
SHC, LHC issue notices on PECA pleas
KARACHI/LAHORE: Both the provincial high courts of Sindh and Punjab on Monday sought replies from respondents including the federal government while hearing petitions filed against some recent amendments to the country's cybercrime lawthe Prevention of Electronic Crime Act (PECA), 2016. A division bench of the Sindh High Court (SCH) led by Chief Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddqui took up a petition filed by two journalistic organizationsthe Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) and the Society of Court Reportersagainst the amendments bulldozed through parliament last week. During the hearing, the bench asked the petitioner's counsel Barrister Ali Tahir as to what were his clients' objections to the amendments. "Should a person spreading fake news not be punished," the bench questioned. The counsel said the basic question was as to who was supposed to decide whether a particular news item was fake or not. The CJ noted that all things are not decided by court and some matters are left up to the discretion of the relevant authority. "The amended law does provide the option of filing an appeal against the order of the authority," he said. The counsel stated that it was a matter of fundamental rights which should be decided by courts. The CJ observed that if it was a matter of fundamental rights then it should be adjudicated by a constitutional bench. Barrister Ali Tahir noted that in its verdict in the Attock Cement case, the court has ruled that a regular bench can also decide the constitutional status of any law. The bench later issued notices to the respondents including the federal government asking them to submit their replies in two weeks. Separately, a single-member bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) comprising Justice Farooq Haider on Monday also sought repliesby March 5from the concerned quarter on a plea seeking declaration of different sections of PECA (Amendment) Act, 2025 ultra vires the Constitution. PFUJ Secretary General Rana Azeem, Punjab Assembly Leader of Opposition Malik Ahmad Bachar and Abdullah Malik advocate filed this petition through advocate Azhar Siddique contending that these provisions are incompatible with the democratic principles and protection of fundamental rights. They submitted that the recent amendments to PECA represent a significant shift towards increased government control over online content and a potential threat to freedom of expression in Pakistan. "The broad and vague definitions within the law, coupled with severe penalties, create an environment of fear and self-censorship among journalists and the public.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New Zealand wins toss and elects to bat against Pakistan in tri-nation series opener
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat in the opening game of the tri-nation series against Pakistan at a newly renovated Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday. The tournament, also featuring South Africa, is a build-up for all the three teams for the Champions Trophy, starting at Karachi from Feb. 19. Babar Azam will open the innings for only third time in his ODI career with Fakhar Zaman after Saim Ayub was ruled out of both events due to fractured ankle. All-rounder Khushdil Shah, who also bowls left-arm spin, has been recalled to the white-ball format and will be playing his first ODI since August 2022. New Zealand, still concerned on the fitness of fast bowler Lockie Ferguson, left out Devon Conway and Mark Chapman from the opening game, but has experienced Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell in the middle order along with Tom Latham. Ferguson is nursing a hamstring injury he sustained during the ongoing ILT20 tournament in the United Arab Emirates and is doubtful to get fit in time for the Champions Trophy. Gaddafi Stadium is one of the three venues which has gone through massive upgradation for the Champions Trophy in a record time of 117 days and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday. Karachi and Rawalpindi are the other venues for Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan. Lahore will also host the second game of the tri-nation series between South Africa and New Zealand on Monday before Karachi hosts the remaining two games next week, including the final on Feb. 14. ___ Lineups: Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Tayyab Tahir, Salman Ali Agha, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed. New Zealand: Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Matt Henry, Ben Sears, Will O'Rourke. ___ AP cricket:
Express Tribune
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Is PPP's role in PECA bill passage dubious
LAHORE: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said it was unaware of a lack of consultation on the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act 2025 (PECA) bill that it had supported in both houses. PPP Vice President Sherry Rehman, talking to journalists in Islamabad, said on Tuesday that they were told that all stakeholders would be taken on board, "which as one can see did not happen". She assured the journalists of her party's support in backing any amendments to this law proposed by media bodies. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also voiced the same concerns as Sherry, stating that it would have been better for this legislation if journalists' organizations had been consulted to forge a consensus. The PPP had opted for a similar strategy when the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had introduced a media/social media law in the Punjab Assembly. The assembly had passed the bill in May last year under which those found guilty of airing, publishing and drafting fake news could be punished for up to six months and could be fined up to Rs3 million by special tribunals. The government then had not agreed to send the draft bill to a selected committee comprising opposition members to invite all stakeholders for consultation, saying the bill had already been discussed threadbare by the special committee. Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider, who belongs to the PPP, had then raised his serious apprehensions about the bill and said he, after reviewing it, might send it back to the provincial assembly along with his suggestions. The Punjab PPP had also expressed similar concerns regarding lack of consultation. The governor first withheld the bill at his office for more than ten days and later left for a foreign tour, leaving the office to the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly who, in his absence, assumed the charge of acting governor. The acting speaker granted his assent to the bill. Under Article 116 of the Constitution, the Punjab governor only had 10 days to give his assent to the bill or send it back, which meant that if the governor had any intention of returning it to the assembly, he would have done so within the stipulated time period. Several PPP leaders were reached for commentsome were unavailable, others refused to speak on the matter claiming that party leadership had already revealed its position on the matter. Former Punjab caretaker chief minister Hasan Askari Rizvi said on the matter that "No party has a long broad vision nor any concern for its public image. Political leaders are moving with a tunnel vision", he said.
