PECA can be withdrawn: IHC chief justice

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 11 March 2022

The Islamabad High Court hears petitions against the PECA ordinance, indicating it may be withdrawn through discussion. Various media bodies support the initiative to resolve the issue amicably.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah, during the hearing of petitions against the PECA ordinance, has remarked that the ordinance can be withdrawn if all petitioners sit together and discuss the matter amicably, Geo News reported.

PFUJ's counsel Adil Aziz Qazi, while backing the advice of Justice Minallah, said: "We are ready to sit together with them [government] to resolve the issue."

All the petitions filed against the act by the Pakistan Broadcasters Association, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), other media bodies, and journalists have been combined by the IHC.

Journalist Defense Committee's lawyers Munir Malik, Barrister Umer Ijaz Gilani, and others appeared before the court.

When asked what would happen to the cases being trialed under the PECA ordinance, Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan clarified that no case under the ordinance is being heard in any court in the county at present.

The judge ruled that the court would not stop the proceedings of the cases that were lodged under the previous law.

KEY POINTS:

• Justice Minallah urges petitioners to discuss PECA ordinance withdrawal.
• PFUJ's counsel expresses readiness to negotiate with the government.
• IHC combines multiple petitions against the PECA act.
• Attorney General states no current cases under the PECA are being tried.
• Court will not halt proceedings of cases from previous laws.