• About
  • Team
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Saturday, June 25, 2022
INCPak
  • World
  • National
    • Islamabad
    • Azad Kashmir
    • Balochistan
    • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
    • Gilgit Baltistan
    • Sindh
    • Punjab
    • FATA
  • Automotive
  • Tech
    • Tech News
    • Custom Roms
    • Tips & Tricks
    • INCPak Roms
    • Reviews
    • Phone Reviews
    • Stock ROMs
    • What’s new?
    • Computer Stuff
  • Business
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Fun Time
    • Kids Corner
    • Poems
    • Stories
  • More
    • Health
    • Editorial
    • Information
    • Travel
    • Beauty
    • Food
    • Music
    • Movies
    • Sports
    • Documentaries
    • Personalities
    • History
    • Economy
    • Emergency Numbers
No Result
View All Result
  • World
  • National
    • Islamabad
    • Azad Kashmir
    • Balochistan
    • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
    • Gilgit Baltistan
    • Sindh
    • Punjab
    • FATA
  • Automotive
  • Tech
    • Tech News
    • Custom Roms
    • Tips & Tricks
    • INCPak Roms
    • Reviews
    • Phone Reviews
    • Stock ROMs
    • What’s new?
    • Computer Stuff
  • Business
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Fun Time
    • Kids Corner
    • Poems
    • Stories
  • More
    • Health
    • Editorial
    • Information
    • Travel
    • Beauty
    • Food
    • Music
    • Movies
    • Sports
    • Documentaries
    • Personalities
    • History
    • Economy
    • Emergency Numbers
No Result
View All Result
INCPak
No Result
View All Result

IHC Declares PECA Ordinance as Unconstitutional

by Ali Gulrez
Apr 8, 2022
in Islamabad, National
0

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday said that amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) through an ordinance promulgated in February 2022 were ‘unconstitutional.’ The decision was announced by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah in response to a petition filed against the PECA Amendment Ordinance 2022 by the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and other media outlets.

PECA Ordinance, PECA, IHC, Islamabad High Court
IHC Declares PECA Ordinance as Unconstitutional

President Dr Arif Alvi had promulgated an ordinance in February this year to amend the PECA law as the government tried to curb fake news and misinformation. However, the move was not welcomed by the journalist community as well as experts, who believed that the government was trying to silence dissent on social media and control the media.

Furthermore, there was also criticism regarding the PECA Amendment Ordinance 2022 by opposition parties, rights organizations, and civil society, all of whom termed the controversial legislation as an attack on freedom of speech and journalism.

The new PECA ordinance had made public defamation a cognizable and non-bailable offence, while increasing the jail term for defaming any person or institution from three to five years. However, before the ordinance came into effect, Section 20, which pertains to the registration of complaints against individuals by aggrieved parties over defamation, was a bailable and non-criminal offence.

The media bodies had challenged the “draconian law” in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) after countrywide protests. The journalist associations, including Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) and some senior journalists of the country, had filed the petition through senior lawyer Munir A Malik.

Subsequently, the IHC had restrained the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from arresting anyone under Section 20 of the PECA ordinance, while seeking a response from the government over the law. The four-page verdict of the IHC issued today states that free speech protected under Article 19 and the right to receive information under Article 19-A of the Constitution are essential for the development, progress, and prosperity of a society.

Therefore, the suppression of such is considered unconstitutional and contrary to the democratic values. “The criminalization of defamation, protection of individual reputations through arrest and imprisonment and the resultant chilling effect violates the letter of the Constitution and the invalidity thereof is beyond a reasonable doubt,” said the IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah in his verdict.

The court said that the PECA Amendment Ordinance 2022 was promulgated in derogation of the Constitution and the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 9, 14, 19 and 19-A. “he jurisdictional preconditions were also not in existence,” it added.

“The Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance, 2022 and promulgation thereof is declared as unconstitutional, invalid beyond reasonable doubt and it is, therefore, struck down.” IHC CJ Athar Minallah said in the verdict on Friday.

Read more: Supreme Court Declares Verdict, Reinstates No-Confidence Motion Against PM Khan.

Follow INCPAK on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram for updates.

Tags: IHCIslamabad High CourtPECAPECA Ordinance
ShareTweetSend

Related Posts

Shehbaz Sharif, Super Tax, Tax
Islamabad

Govt Imposes Super Tax on Large-Scale Industries

Jun 24, 2022
PEMRA Laws
Islamabad

Govt to Amend PEMRA Laws: Marriyum Aurangzeb

Jun 23, 2022
Lockdown Lahore, Lockdown Lahore Sunday, Lahore Sunday, Lockdown Sunday
National

Punjab Imposes Lockdown on Business Activities in Lahore on Sunday

Jun 23, 2022
Hot Weather, Weather
Islamabad

PMD Forecasts Hot & Dry Weather in Most Parts of Pakistan

Jun 23, 2022
Rain in Karachi, Karachi Rain, Karachi Weather
National

Several Killed Due to Heavy Rain in Karachi

Jun 22, 2022
Karachi Rain, Rain in Karachi
National

Heavy Rain in Karachi Causes Power Outages and Flooded Roads

Jun 22, 2022
Cylinder Blast E-11/3, Fire, Shawarma Hut
Islamabad

Cylinder Blast at Shawarma Hut in E-11/3 Markaz

Jun 22, 2022
Earthquake Islamabad, Earthquake
Islamabad

Earthquake Jolts Islamabad, Rawalpindi & Peshawar

Jun 22, 2022
Congo Virus, Congo Virus Pakistan, Eid ul Adha 2022
Islamabad

NIH Issues Alert For Congo Virus Ahead of Eid-ul-Adha 2022

Jun 21, 2022
Load More
Next Post
Fawad Chaudhry, Tariq Khan, Commission, Threat Letter

Lt Gen (R) Tariq Khan Appointed Head of Inquiry Commission to Probe 'Threat Letter'

Ufone Ramzan Offer

Ufone Ramzan Offer Brings Big Roaming Data Buckets For Saudi Arabia

Prime Minister Imran Khan, Address to Nation, Imran Khan

Prime Minister Address to The Nation on 8th April 2022

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

INCPak Discover YouTube Channel

INCPAK Discover

Latest

  • Gold Rate in Pakistan Today – 25 June 2022
  • SBP Clarifies Issuance of Rs. 75 Banknote
  • Suzuki Cultus to Be Discontinued in Pakistan
  • Pak Suzuki Installment Plan For Bikes 2022
  • Punjab Scooter Program For Female Teachers – Details Revealed
  • Govt Imposes Super Tax on Large-Scale Industries
  • USD to PKR – Dollar Rate in Pakistan – 24 June 2022
  • Gold Rate in Pakistan Today – 24 June 2022
  • Govt to Amend PEMRA Laws: Marriyum Aurangzeb

Follow us on Twitter

INCPAK Twitter

Follow us on Instagram

Qries

USD to PKR Rates

Qries

INCPak Official logo

INCPak Official Logo

Trending

  • Petrol Prices in Pakistan
  • USD to PKR Rates
  • MTMIS – Online Vehicle Verification
  • Ehsaas Program
  • Punjab Rozgar Scheme
  • Naya Pakistan Housing Program
  • Mera Pakistan Mera Ghar Loan

Site Links

  • About
  • Team
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • About
  • Team
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

All rights reserved © 2022 INCPak - Independent News Coverage Pakistan - (Digital News Portal)

No Result
View All Result
  • World
  • National
    • Islamabad
    • Azad Kashmir
    • Balochistan
    • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
    • Gilgit Baltistan
    • Sindh
    • Punjab
    • FATA
  • Automotive
  • Tech
    • Tech News
    • Custom Roms
    • Tips & Tricks
    • INCPak Roms
    • Reviews
    • Phone Reviews
    • Stock ROMs
    • What’s new?
    • Computer Stuff
  • Business
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Fun Time
    • Kids Corner
    • Poems
    • Stories
  • More
    • Health
    • Editorial
    • Information
    • Travel
    • Beauty
    • Food
    • Music
    • Movies
    • Sports
    • Documentaries
    • Personalities
    • History
    • Economy
    • Emergency Numbers

All rights reserved © 2022 INCPak - Independent News Coverage Pakistan - (Digital News Portal)