The government is ready to take back the Pakistan Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act (PECA), Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan on Thursday said in a hearing in the Islamabad High Court (IHC). IHC Chief Justice, Athar Minallah while hearing the plea had issued notice to the AGP to appear before the court in personal capacity.
Attorney General Khalid Jawed told the court that the matter can be sent back to the federal cabinet to get opinion of the concerned persons.
A timeframe should be fixed to work out on this law, “We will sit with the PFUJ, PBA and others to sort out the matter,” AGP said. “PECA amendment is a draconian law, if come into force in present shape,” AGP said. “Mainstream or print media is not required to regulate with this law,” he further said. “I have detailed meeting with the prime minister and defending the case on the special instructions of the prime minister, this case is out mutual mistake,” he said.
“The court wants to set an example with this case,” the bench remarked. The court had clubbed all the petitions against the PECA ordinance. The Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and other petitioners had challenged the PECA ordinance. The PBA in its plea had claimed that the ordinance has been released to promote self-censorship and the president must have strong grounds before issuing any ordinance. INP
