IHC seeks report on FIA’s power under PECA

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday instructed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to submit detailed report after consulting all stakeholders regarding its powers under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016.

During a hearing, Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that the cases related to defamation should be filed to district court, which was a proper forum for such pleas.

He added that the FIA should not get itself involved in such matters and instead it should focus on its own performance.

The chief justice remarked that the public had the relevant forums for defamation cases. It was not in the public interest that the FIA was wasting time in civil cases, he added.

The chief justice further observed that the court wanted to pass a comprehensive judgment on this matter.

The chief justice appreciated the FIA for consulting the stakeholders about its powers under PECA. Justice Minallah also said that the FIA should not take every application because the agency had more important national-level tasks.

Deputy Attorney General Syed Tayyab Shah requested the bench to grant more time for submission of report as the department had to consult the stakeholders.

The court sought the detailed report from FIA and adjourned the case till the next date.