IHC serves notices on law and IT ministries

Court remarks the legislation regarding freedom of expression cannot be abrogated

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has served notices to the Ministry of Law and Justice and Ministry of Information Technology in a case related to regulation of the Electronic Crimes Act in view of the freedom of expression.

During the hearing on Friday, Justice Aamer Farooq remarked that freedom of expression did not mean to hurt anyone’s feelings. He said the expression could be witnessed on the television channels and social media.



The counsel for the petitioner contended before the bench that there was a need to regulate the Electronic Crime Act while keeping freedom of expression in mind.

Justice Farooq remarked that state institutions were criticised on social media. The court said that the legislation regarding the freedom of expression could not be abrogated.



Deputy Attorney General Arshad Mehmood Kiani said the sacrilegious or other such material on social media could spread anarchy across the country. He said not everything should be uploaded in the pretext of freedom of expression.

The court adjourned the hearing for three weeks.