The High Court of Lahore rejected a plea requesting an immediate suspension of the implementation of various sections of the PECA amendment (prevention of electronic crimes).
The court declared that a decision would be made after hearing the arguments of all the parties involved and had issued opinions to the parties concerned, asking for their answers in the three weeks, according to Express News.
During the hearing, judge Farooq Haider pointed out that the court would await the positions of the parties before making a final decision.
The petition, deposited by a journalist, was presented by lawyer Nadeem Sarwar, who argued that the changes to the PECA Act were unconstitutional and seriously affect freedom of expression in the country.
The petitioners argued that recent changes to the PECA Act, which were accelerated by the National Assembly after having circumvented the usual parliamentary procedures, included provisions that would impose severe sanctions, including up to three years of prison and fines to spread false information.
The petitioners expressed their concerns that the PECA law, which had already been used as a tool to silence dissent, more restricted the remaining freedoms of the country.
The petition also said that the PECA modification bill had been presented without consulting stakeholders and relevant journalistic organizations, violating the democratic process.
The petitioners argued that the modifications were in conflict with the fundamental right to the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan, making the law unconstitutional.
The court was invited to declare the law on the modification of PECA as unconstitutional and to attack it. It has also been requested that all measures taken under the modified law will be suspended until the final decision is issued.
This case will be followed closely, because the result could have important implications for media freedom and the protection of freedom of expression in Pakistan.
