ISLAMABAD: Hearing a petition against the recently promulgated PECA Ordinance, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Tuesday remarked that it seemed as if Prime Minister Imran Khan was not properly assisted on the PECA law.
Referring to the Prime Minister Imran Khan’s address to the nation on Monday, the Chief Justice noted that it seemed as if no one had briefed the Prime Minister that there were laws for defamation as well other than the PECA law. The Chief Justice observed that the law is used against critics here.
The court directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to ensure that no action was taken against the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) already submitted in the court by the agency. After brief hearing, the court issued a notice to the Attorney-General for Pakistan (AGP) and directed that all the petitions against the PECA law be clubbed. Later, the court adjourned the hearing until March 10.
The plea challenging the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act ordinance 2022 (PECA) was filed by Lahore High Court Bar Association’s former president Maqsood Butt. At the onset of hearing on Tuesday, Hassan Irfan, counsel for the petitioner, apprised the court that the plea of his client was different from the previously filed petitions on the matter.
He said his plea contained two different points from the previously filed petitions against the PECA amendment ordinance. He contended that the FIA had no authority to deal with a matter between the two private parties. He said FIA could only look into the cases, which directly related to the federal government.