The Association of Journalists of the Superior Court of Islamabad (IHCJA) has presented a petition in the Superior Court of Islamabad, challenging the recent amendments of the Government to the controversial Law of Prevention of Electronic Crimes (PECA).
The petition argued that amendments constitute an “attack on press freedom” and request a judicial review. The petitioner’s lawyer has also asked the court to form a larger bank to listen to the case.
IHCJA’s request said the sin amendments violate articles 19 and 19a of the Constitution, which protect freedom of expression and information. In addition, he affirmed that the law gives the government excessive powers of censorship, which violates digital rights.
In addition, the petition argued that the regulatory authority created under Peca lacks constitutional legitimacy.
The president of the Supreme Court of IHC, Sarfaraz Dogar, ordered that the case be linked to other pending requests before Judge Inam Amin Minhas, who will decide the application of a larger bank. The president of the Supreme Court at Intering also asked about the case schedule, which has been postponed for two weeks.
The amended law, which received assent from President Asif Ali Zardari, includes new definitions, the creation of regulatory bodies and stricter sanctions for disseminating “false” information.
The amendments reduce the punishment for spreading false news online to three years in prison and imposing fines of up to RS2 million. It also proposes the establishment of the regulatory authority and protection of social means (SMPRA), the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and a Social Media Protection Court.
The amendments empower people who feel aggravated by false information to address the authority for the elimination or blockade of said content, with orders that will be issued within 24 hours.
In addition, the law allows authority to demand that social networking platforms register with it, and establishes a Council of Social Network Complaints to handle complaints.
The amendments also propose the creation of social networks protection courts to resolve cases within 90 days, with appeals allowed to the Supreme Court within 60 days.
