The High Court of the Sindh published an opinion from the federal government and asked for a response concerning a petition against the PECA Act within two weeks.
The bench of two members, led by the chief judge of the judge of the High Court of the Sindh, Mohammad Shafi Siddiqui, heard the petition contesting the Peca law.
The court asked: “What’s wrong with this law? Shouldn’t anyone repair the false news?”
The petitioner’s lawyer, the lawyer Ali Tahir, raised the fundamental question of knowing who determines what is false or true. The chief judge noted that not all decisions are made by the courts; Some are manufactured by the authorities. “You also have the right to appeal against the decisions of the authorities.”
Lawyer Ali Tahir argued that such decisions should be made by the Court because they involve fundamental rights. The chief judge replied, affirming if it is a question of fundamental rights, the case should be heard by a constitutional bench.
Lawyer Ali Tahir cited the Attock Cement affair, where the court had decided that the regular benches could examine the constitutional validity of any law.
The court has given an opinion to the federal government and ordered that a response be submitted within two weeks, adjourning the hearing for two weeks.
Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI), as well as civil society and journalistic organizations, challenged the law of PECA to PECA ACT 2025 before the High Court of Lahore.
The head of the opposition of the Punjab assembly, Ahmed Bachhar, as well as others, deposited the petition against the law of the PECA 2025 through the Siddic Azhar lawyer. The petition has appointed the provincial government, the chief secretary and others as respondent.
The petition argues that the law on the modification of the PECA violates article 19-a of the Constitution. He indicates that the law does not define the “false news”, allowing authorities to label any new as well as false and to take measures for political reasons.
According to the petition, the modified law obliges journalists to disclose their sources of information, which constitutes a violation of journalistic ethics. The petition asks the court to declare the law on the modification of the unconstitutional PECA and to cancel it. In addition, he urges the court to interrupt any action under the law until a final decision is taken.
