The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has declared the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Ordinance null and void, saying that it is unconstitutional. Chief Justice of the IHC Justice Athar Minallah said that the Article 19 of the Constitution guarantees the citizens' freedom of expression, adding that the ordinance violates Articles 9, 14 and 19 of the Constitution.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) presented a report in the court, after which Chief Justice Athar Minallah said that the SOPs that the agency put forth before the court were violated. "You violated the SOPs and imposed sections that should not have been inserted. You inserted those sections just to avoid being questioned by the court," he said to the FIA officials.
FIA Director Babar Bakht Qureshi said that the law is in place and therefore the agency finds itself under pressure to implement it.
Announcing the short order, the court declared the PECA ordinance unconstitutional and set it aside.
Meanwhile, the court's verdict has been widely welcomed, with people terming it another breath of fresh air after the SC verdict on Thursday that declared the deputy speaker's ruling unconstitutional and restored the National Assembly.
https://twitter.com/UsamaKhilji/status/1512371611240124416?s=20&t=Bz-EKuPvOmK6eWIxEWWSzw
https://twitter.com/FariehaAziz/status/1512378411079110661?s=20&t=Bz-EKuPvOmK6eWIxEWWSzw
https://twitter.com/nuqsh/status/1512374088718864384?s=20&t=Bz-EKuPvOmK6eWIxEWWSzw
https://twitter.com/Matiullahjan919/status/1512378573637705739?s=20&t=Bz-EKuPvOmK6eWIxEWWSzw
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) presented a report in the court, after which Chief Justice Athar Minallah said that the SOPs that the agency put forth before the court were violated. "You violated the SOPs and imposed sections that should not have been inserted. You inserted those sections just to avoid being questioned by the court," he said to the FIA officials.
FIA Director Babar Bakht Qureshi said that the law is in place and therefore the agency finds itself under pressure to implement it.
Announcing the short order, the court declared the PECA ordinance unconstitutional and set it aside.
Meanwhile, the court's verdict has been widely welcomed, with people terming it another breath of fresh air after the SC verdict on Thursday that declared the deputy speaker's ruling unconstitutional and restored the National Assembly.
https://twitter.com/UsamaKhilji/status/1512371611240124416?s=20&t=Bz-EKuPvOmK6eWIxEWWSzw
https://twitter.com/FariehaAziz/status/1512378411079110661?s=20&t=Bz-EKuPvOmK6eWIxEWWSzw
https://twitter.com/nuqsh/status/1512374088718864384?s=20&t=Bz-EKuPvOmK6eWIxEWWSzw
https://twitter.com/Matiullahjan919/status/1512378573637705739?s=20&t=Bz-EKuPvOmK6eWIxEWWSzw