Islamabad High Court (IHC) has stopped government from making arrests under section 20 of PECA Amendment Bill 2022.
The court issued these orders during the hearing of petition filed by Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) against the ordinance here Wednesday.
The court also issued notice to Attorney General (AG) for today (Thursday) for assisting the court.
Petition came up for hearing before IHC bench presided over by Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah Wednesday.
Petitioner Rizwan Qazi advocate, Adil Aziz Qazi appeared in the court along with Kashif Hussain.
Senior journalist and anchor person Hamid Mir, PFUJ Finance secretary Jamil Mirza, Tariq Usmani, vice president Farhat Fatima, president RIUJ Shakil Ahmad, president IHC journalist association Saqib Bashir, Dr Furqan Rao, Zaigham Naqvi and others appeared in the court.
Adil Aziz Qazi counsel for the petitioner argued Senate session ended on February 17 and on February 18 there was schedule for National Assembly. The session was ended so that ordinance could be promulgated.
CJ IHC Athar Minallah remarked the amendment has been made in which section of PECA through ordinance.
Advocate Adil Aziz Qazi said a new section has been included in addition to an amendment.
The CJ IHC inquired what amendment has been made in section 20.
The counsel told the court the sentence has been enhanced from three years to five years.
The CJ IHC remarked there should not be defamation law for the public figure.
Advocate Adil Aziz Qazi said whosoever calls himself public figure should not be worried from the criticism. We also say this.
The court while preventing the government from making arrests under section 20 of PECA issued notice attorney general for assisting the court.
The court remarked FIA has already filed SOPs. Under SOPs no arrest should be made on any complaint under section 20.
CJ IHC remarked if SOPs are not implemented then DG FIA and Secretary interior will be responsible.
The hearing of the case has been adjourned till today (Thursday).
