Islamabad:
On Wednesday, the High Court of Islamabad (IHC) issued the last warning to the ministries of the law and information technology, the FIA and the PTA to submit their responses in petitions contesting the controversial amendment to the law on the prevention of electronic crimes (PECA).
Judge Inaam Ameen Minhas said the court would continue the case even if the responses had not been filed.
The IHC heard joint petitions deposited by Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), anchorrsons and journalist organizations.
During the hearing, judge Minhas noticed that he thought that this case would take a long time and suggested planning it after Eid.
The Imran Shafic lawyer argued that the federal government had submitted responses only through the interior and information ministries, but not from the Department of Law and Parliamentary Affairs or the PTA.
He also noted that the government had submitted an unusual answer questioning the jurisdiction of the Court, claiming that after the 26th constitutional amendment, only a constitutional bench of the High Court could hear this case.
Advocate Shafic rejected the government’s argument, calling for this attempt to delay the procedure. He underlined a second objection which cited a Koranic verse, suggesting that the information must be checked before sharing it. “People are reserved in the FIR and the court should accelerate the case,” he said.
Justice Minhas wondered if journalists were currently able to freely report the news. He asked if news was blocked or someone prevented from giving or publishing news.
Lawyer Raisat Ali Azad asked the court to make a suspension order to prevent journalists’ arrest or register against them for reporting information.
