SCBA strongly condemns amendment to PECA

Bhoon terms it ‘attack on freedom of press and expression’

ISLAMABAD:

Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Ahsan Bhoon has strongly condemned the amendment to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 through a new ordinance.

Talking to The Express Tribune, the SCBA president termed the new ordinance an “attack on freedom of press and expression”.

He wondered the government was scared of criticism.

“Though I am a victim of fake news, but I strongly oppose such laws,” he added.

The SCBA president also criticised the promulgation of ordinances frequently by the ruling PTI during its tenure, saying that the culture of ordinances has already destroyed the country.

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Salman Akram Raja advocate termed the new ordinance a “bad law”.

He said, “Instead of making defamation law effective, the government has made a law to initiate criminal proceedings against individuals who will level allegations.”

He said criminal proceedings are not initiated in such matters all over the world.

Another lawyer said that new law has ratcheted up complete intolerance for criticism.

“The government should be careful in making such laws, especially when the European Union countries are already expressing serious concerns over the media persons’ complaints that the incumbent government is harassing them.”

A three-judge special bench led by Justice Ijazul Ahsan hearing a suo motu case regarding media persons’ protection had observed that provisions of PECA could not regulate or curtail fundamental rights like freedoms of expression and press since they were enshrined in the Constitution.

The bench had also wondered how PECA could regulate freedom of press.