Govt defends PECA move amid heavy criticism

ISLAMABAD:

The incumbent government on Monday defended the newly promulgated ordinance amending the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016 amid heavy criticism from all corners.

Prime Minister Imran Khan called the censure unwarranted for amid opposition parties’ announcement that they would challenge the “draconian” law in courts and parliament – the forum that the ruling party avoided while making online “defamation” a non-bailable offence.

In a meeting with the party leaders, sources said, the prime minister dubbed the condemnation of the ordinance by the opposition parties and others uncalled for, saying that the ordinance would deter people from tarnishing others’ respect and dignity. “Such laws were deliberately not made in the past, which led to ruining morality of the youth.”

Also, they said the much-talked about visit of the premier to Russia was discussed in the meeting. The premier and the party leaders were of the opinion that the visit would pave the way for signing of different agreements between the two countries and help improve Pakistan’s economic situation.

Also read: PECA changes aimed at ‘gagging dissent’

The premier’s visit to Russia is taking place amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine and, ultimately, confrontation between Russia and the West while simultaneously bringing Russia and China closer against the US.

In the meeting, it was deliberated that PM Imran’s visit would be closely seen by the regional and international players owing to regional geo-strategic realignments.

Further, the major opposition parties – PPP and PML-N –on Monday announced that they would challenge the PECA ordinance at every forum, saying the law was an attempt to clamp down on dissent and an aim to silence the opposition, media, civil society and to prevent criticism on government policies frequently debated on social media platforms.

Leader of the Opposition in Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani said that the PPP would challenge the “harsh” law in court as the promulgation of the ordinance just a day after the Senate session was held was nothing but an attempt to harass the opposition, media and masses.

He said that the government issued the ordinance as it was scared and wanted to restrict media through “draconian” laws.

Gillani chided the ruling party’s leadership by reminding them that it was the same media that had cooperated when they were on containers, saying that the rulers were now busy intimidating the opponents, but warned that those making such laws would be the first to face them.

Also read: Media bodies reject ‘draconian’ PECA ordinance

PML-N Secretary Information Marriyum Aurangzeb rejected the amendments to the PECA law, saying that they would be challenged before the higher judiciary and in parliament.

Calling the PECA ordinance a “draconian and black law”, the PML-N spokesperson said that it was made to enslave 220 million people of the country, adding that Senator Azam Nazir Tarar was examining the law in detail and would soon challenge it.

“The black laws violate the Constitution, national and international media laws as well as human rights,” Marriyum said, adding that the ordinance, without defining what “fake news” was or how it was different from mis-or-dis-information, just enhanced the punishment for it.

In the same breath, she criticised the law, demanding that PM Imran be imprisoned for fake news and false charges and be awarded a 10-year sentence. Action should also be taken against the cabinet members and “hired spokesperson” if it really has to be implemented.

She maintained that the promulgation of the ordinance depicted the mindset of the rulers who were not ready to listen to any dissent just because they “can’t endure any criticism at a time when inflation and unemployment are at peak levels” and all the government could think about was how to suppress the voices.

Also read: SCBA strongly condemns amendment to PECA

Moreover, PPP senators Palwasha Khan and Bahramand Tangi said that through the ordinance the government has actually made an attempt to ban the media and others from discussing the state of affairs in PM Imran’s state of Madina.

While questioning what happened when former military ruler Gen Ziaul Haq had banned the press, the PPP leaders said that they did not care if the sentence was five or 50 years.

Rejecting the ordinance and echoing what the PML-N said, the PPP leaders said that if the ordinance has to be implemented then it should be implemented from the time when PM Imran would accuse the opponents as thieves and robbers.

“The implementation of the ordinance should start with Imran Khan,” they said, wondering what PM Imran would say if the words thieves and robbers were removed from his speeches.

Since the promulgation of the ordinance, the critiques have been saying that the move is aimed not only to control the digital space but to prevent criticism against the government and country’s powerful institutions.

They said that criticising the judiciary or military shouldn’t have been made a punishable offence as institutions paid by taxpayers must be accountable to the people instead of becoming more autocratic.