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Business Recorder
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
PECA Act: Respondents asked to submit comments
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) gave a deadline to the respondents to submit comments in the petitions challenging amendments in the PECA Act. A single bench of Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas on Wednesday heard the petitions of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), anchors association and Islamabad High Court Journalists Association (IHCJA). In the petition, counsel of the journalist body adopted the stance that the PECA (Amendment) Act is unconstitutional and illegal; hence, the court should conduct judicial review on it. The petition said the PECA (Amendment) 2025 increased the government control and restrictions on freedom of speech. It said the PECA law violated Article 19 and 19(A) of the Constitution as well. Therefore, it pleaded, the law should be suspended. PECA amendments challenged in SC During the hearing, Advocate Imran Shafiq and other lawyers appeared in the court on behalf of the petitioners. Advocate Shafiq said the federal government has filed its reply only through the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Information while the Ministry of Law and Justice, Parliamentary Affairs and the PTA have not submitted any response yet. He informed the bench that the federal government has raised a question on the jurisdiction of this court. He added that the federation has stated that after the 26th Constitutional Amendment, only the Constitutional Bench of the High Court can hear this case. The lawyer said the second objection was raised while giving a reference of a Quranic verse that before spreading the words, do research. The lawyer said the FIRs are being registered against people and the court should hear this case soon. The IHC bench asked whether there is no news going on? Is someone preventing news from being given or published? Riasat Ali Azad advocate prayed the court to issue a stay order that there will be no FIR or arrest against the journalist for reporting the news. He said that the parties are not submitting a response and are taking time from the court. Journalist Mazhar Abbas said that an atmosphere of harassment has been created in the media industry and the journalists are being summoned and harassed by the FIA. The petitioner's lawyer said the parties should be directed to file their replies and provide a copy of the replies to the petitioners in advance before the next hearing. Justice Inaam remarked that even if the response is not filed, the hearing will still be continued. He said that this case would take a long time and therefore, it will be scheduled after Eid. Later, the court deferred hearing of the case till the second week of July. The PFUJ said in the petition that the law infringed international human rights as well as digital rights in Pakistan. The petition read: '…a writ may be issued declaring that the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 is unconstitutional, being violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution, due process, fair trial, and the concept of regulatory independence, as well as the doctrines of fairness, proportionality, reasonableness, and constitutional limitations or restrictions, hence void, and liable to be struck down.' Therefore, the PFUJ prayed that the respondents may be restrained and prevented from employing the coercive powers under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, in general, and against the journalist community, in particular till final disposal of the instant petition. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Governor meets CPNE delegation, seeks mechanism to check fake news
LAHORE: Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan said that the Pakistan People's Party is committed to upholding freedom of the press and fostering its growth. 'Responsible media plays a vital role in identifying societal issues and promoting democratic values, however, there is need to chart out a mechanism to tackle the spread of fake news on social media,' the governor said these views during the meeting with a delegation of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) led by President CPNE Kazim Khan, here at the Governor House. General Secretary of PPP Central Punjab, Hassan Murtaza was also present. The governor stressed the vital importance of the media in shaping public discourse. He said the media plays a key role in the continuity of democracy and political stability in the country. He emphasized the PPP's longstanding commitment to press freedom. He advocated for stakeholders' consultations on the PECA law, highlighting the need for a balanced approach, acknowledging that fake news is relatively low in traditional media. Expressing concern about its proliferation on social media, he suggested establishing a mechanism to curb fake news, with journalists playing a proactive role in this endeavour. The governor further said that the PPP faced media trial between 2008 and 2013, yet the PPP did not support imposing any restriction on freedom of expression. On this occasion, the delegation informed the governor about their reservations on the PECA Act. The delegation stressed on stakeholders' consultation on amendments to the PECA Act. The delegation was comprised of Ayaz Khan Senior Vice President, President Free Media Committee Irshad Arif, Ghulam Nabi Chandio Secretary General, Tanveer Shaukat Deputy Secretary General, Ijaz Khan, Waqas Tariq and other officials. On this occasion, the governor also congratulated the newly elected members of CPNE and expressed his best wishes. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
JI warns govt against using PECA
LAHORE: Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has emphasized the need to curb fake news but warned the government against using the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) as a cover to advance its malicious agenda. Talking to a delegation of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) led by its President Kazim Khan, he stressed that freedom of expression must be safeguarded at all costs. He announced that the JI would fully support journalist community in their struggle against the PECA law. 'Jamaat-e-Islami will participate in all journalist-led activities against the PECA Act.' The CPNE delegation included Secretary General Ghulam Nabi Chandio, Senior Vice President Ayaz Khan, Deputy Secretary Tanveer Shaukat, Chairman Media Freedom Committee Irshad Arif, former Secretary General Ijazul Haq, and Punjab Joint Secretary Waqas Tariq. JI Secretary General Ameerul Azeem and Information Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Turabi were also present at the meeting. Rehman stated that while the nation is currently unified and motivated following Pakistan's recent victory against India, laws like PECA would only breed unrest and disunity. He urged the government to immediately withdraw PECA and initiate broad-based consultations to draft new legislation through national consensus. Praising the role of Pakistani media during the recent India-Pakistan conflict, he said, 'Our media displayed professionalism and responsibility, unlike the Indian media which became a global laughingstock.' Kazim Khan and other CPNE delegates remarked that prior to the conflict, campaigns were being run against Pakistani media accusing it of irresponsibility and undermining national security. However, after the war, government and military spokespersons publicly acknowledged that Pakistani media acted with remarkable responsibility. Even the DG ISPR expressed gratitude to the media for its role. The JI leader also raised the issue of timely and fair salary payments to media workers, to which Kazim Khan agreed and assured that CPNE would include this demand in its official agenda. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
11-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Three get life terms in child abuse case
An Additional District and Sessions Judge in Taxila on Saturday sentenced three convicts to a total of life imprisonment, 21 years of additional imprisonment, and fines amounting to Rs4.5 million in a case involving the sexual assault of a 12-year-old boy, blackmail through an obscene nude video, and its circulation on social media. The court sentenced convict Haseeb Khan to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs500,000 for rape, along with an additional seven years of imprisonment and a Rs1 million fine under the PECA (Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act). Convict Abid received life imprisonment and a fine of Rs500,000 for rape, plus seven years in prison and a Rs1m fine under the PECA Act. Similarly, convict Abdul Samad was sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs500,000 for rape, along with seven years of imprisonment and a Rs1m fine under the PECA Act. The case was registered at Taxila Police Station in April 2024. Based on solid evidence and effective prosecution, the court awarded exemplary punishments to the convicts. In response to the verdict, Rawalpindi City Police Officer Syed Khalid Hamdani commended the SSP Investigation as well as the investigation and legal teams for their performance in ensuring justice was served.
Business Recorder
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Opposition alliance unveils 15-point agenda
ISLAMABAD: Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Aain Pakistan (Movement for the Protection of the Constitution of Pakistan) on Monday made public 15-points national agenda to address the challenges facing the country and to formulate a future strategy. The head of the Movement Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaiser, Allama Nasir Abbas, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and other opposition leaders addressed the ceremony regarding the national agenda of the movement. Khokhar, while presenting the national agenda, stated that the desire was to highlight the problems facing the opposition alliance in Pakistan, adding there was nothing in this agenda that is against the law. Only if the sanctity of the people and the state is not violated in any way, then the state will be able to move forward, he added. He presented the points which included that the alliance rejects the rigging of the 2024 elections. 'We demand that elections be held again,' said Khokar, adding that freedom of expression was taken away by the amendment to the PECA Act, the independence of the judiciary was taken away through the 26th Constitutional Amendment. The responsibilities of the Pakistan Armed Forces should be carried out within their jurisdiction. The government writ and the deteriorating law and order situation in the country are viewed with concern. The alliance demands that the National Action Plan be implemented strictly. It has become difficult for the middle class to live, as well as, for business people to do business. He further said that this alliance demand that water resources be distributed legally. The canals issue should be resolved by the Council of Common Interests. The rights of the provinces cannot be taken away. Missing persons should be brought before the judiciary in accordance with the law. Armed terrorist organisations can be confronted without taking away the rights of citizens. All restrictions imposed on the internet should be lifted. This alliance supports holding free local elections. All political prisoners, including the founder of PTI, should be released. Central leader of PTI and former Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser said that the alliance of opposition parties has put the national agenda before the nation and is the same agenda on which they held the national conference. He said that on the 7th, they are going to Punjab, and want to keep the national agenda. We will also discuss the issues of Punjab during this time, said Qaiser, adding that they will also hold such conferences in Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that they are very concerned about the situation in Pakistan's units. The Balochistan government currently does not practically represent the people, he added. Mahmood Khan Achakzai said that they fully support this national agenda and this is the time to unite the country. He also proposed all political parties should form a national government together and save Pakistan. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
