Latest news with #InamAminMinhas
Business Recorder
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
PECA Amendment Act 2025: IHC asks petitioners to clarify changes
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) asked the petitioners' lawyers to clarify changes in the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), highlighting what it previously entailed and what has now been altered. A single-judge bench of Justice Inam Amin Minhas, on Monday, heard multiple petitions seeking the annulment of the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Amendment Act 2025. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), prominent TV anchors, and the IHC Journalists Association have challenged the amendments in the PECA. PECA Act: Respondents asked to submit comments During the proceeding, the federal government filed its written response before the court. The federation's counsel informed that the provincial governments have also been made respondents in the case. He told that an initial objection raised by the Registrar's Office had been removed. The court directed the petitioners' lawyers to argue their case. PFUJ counsel Dr Yasir Aman Khan gave the historical perspective of the Act, 2025. Justice Minhas asked him to first provide the background so the court can understand the case. Dr Yasir submitted that the PECA Act was introduced in 2016, adding that the 2025 Amendment removed several provisions from the original act and added new ones. He contended that Social Media Complaint Council has been set up under the Act, which has expanded its scope. Justice Minhas told the petitioners' counsels to clarify the changes in the Code of Conduct, highlighting what it previously entailed and what has now been altered. Under the new rules, individuals sharing expunged material from parliamentary or provincial assemblies on social media could face imprisonment of up to three years along with a fine of Rs2 million. It was informed to the Court that an atmosphere of harassment has been created in the media industry and the journalists are being summoned and harassed by the FIA. The PFUJ petition said that the law infringed international human rights as well as digital rights in Pakistan. The petition read: '…a writ may be issued declaring that the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 is unconstitutional, being violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution, due process, fair trial, and the concept of regulatory independence, as well as the doctrines of fairness, proportionality, reasonableness, and constitutional limitations or restrictions, hence void, and liable to be struck down.' Therefore, the PFUJ prayed that the respondents may be restrained and prevented from employing the coercive powers under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, in general, and against the journalist community, in particular till final disposal of the instant petition. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Provinces made party in PECA challenge
Justice Inam Amin Minhas of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday heard multiple petitions seeking the annulment of the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Amendment Act 2025. The PFUJ counsel opened the arguments by giving historical context as the judge asked to first provide the background so the court can understand the case. He noted that the amendment also establishes a Social Media Complaint Council, expanding the law's scope. The IHC instructed the petitioners to clarify the changes in the Code of Conduct, highlighting what it previously entailed and what has now been altered.
Express Tribune
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
IHC hears petitions against PECA Amendment Act 2025
Listen to article Justice Inam Amin Minhas of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday heard multiple petitions seeking the annulment of the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Amendment Act 2025. The petitions were filed by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), prominent TV anchors, and the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Journalists Association. The federal government has submitted its written response to the court. A government lawyer stated that provincial governments have also been made respondents in the case. Lawyer Imran Shafiq told the court that an initial objection raised by the Registrar's Office had been resolved. During the hearing, IHC directed the petitioners' lawyers to begin presenting their arguments. PFUJ counsel Dr Yasir Aman Khan opened the arguments by giving historical context as the judge asked to first provide the background so the court can understand the case. Read: Back to the cave: Where does PECA take us? "The PECA Act was introduced in 2016," said Dr Yasir, adding that the 2025 Amendment removed several provisions from the original act and added new ones. He noted that the amendment also establishes a Social Media Complaint Council, expanding the law's scope. Justice Inam Amin Minhas instructed the petitioners to clarify the changes in the Code of Conduct, highlighting what it previously entailed and what has now been altered. PECA amendment Earlier this year, the National Assembly passed a set of amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) under a supplementary agenda, significantly expanding the government's authority to regulate online content and penalise digital offences. PECA (Amendment) Act 2025 included provisions for the formation of a Digital Rights Protection Authority (DRPA), which will be empowered to remove online content, restrict access to prohibited material, and impose penalties on individuals who share such content. The amendments also broadened the definition of 'social media platforms' to encompass tools and software used to access these platforms. The revised law now extends its jurisdiction to include websites, applications and various communication channels. As part of the legislative changes, the FIA Cybercrime Wing is to be disbanded and replaced with a stricter framework of enforcement. Under the new rules, individuals sharing expunged material from parliamentary or provincial assemblies on social media could face imprisonment of up to three years along with a fine of Rs2 million.
Express Tribune
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
IHC stops FIA from harassing Farhatullah Babar
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday stopped the FIA from harassing former senator Farhatullah Babar and issued notices to the relevant parties, seeking their replies by the last week of this month. IHC Justice Inam Amin Minhas heard the petition filed by Babar through lawyers Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha under Article 199. The Interior Ministry, the FIA and others have been made parties in the petition. The petition stated that an FIA inquiry was initiated on March 25 on the complaints of "suspected corruption, tax evasion and acquisition of illegal assets" from a citizen, whom the petitioner did not know.
Express Tribune
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Islamabad High Court Journalists Association challenges PECA amendments
Listen to article The Islamabad High Court Journalists Association (IHCJA) has filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court, challenging the government's recent amendments to the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The petition argued that the amendments constitute an "attack on press freedom" and requests a judicial review. The petitioner's lawyer has also asked the court to form a larger bench to hear the case. The IHCJA's petition contended that the PECA amendments violate Articles 19 and 19A of the Constitution, which protect freedom of speech and information. It further claimed the law grants the government excessive censorship powers, infringing on digital rights. Additionally, the petition argued that the regulatory authority created under Peca lacks constitutional legitimacy. Acting IHC Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar directed that the case be linked with other pending petitions before Justice Inam Amin Minhas, who will decide on the request for a larger bench. The acting chief justice also inquired about the schedule for the case, which has been postponed for two weeks. The amended law, which received assent from President Asif Ali Zardari, includes new definitions, the creation of regulatory bodies, and stricter penalties for spreading "false" information. The amendments reduce the punishment for spreading fake news online to three years in prison and impose fines of up to Rs2 million. It also proposes the establishment of the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA), the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), and a Social Media Protection Tribunal. The amendments empower individuals who feel aggrieved by false information to approach the authority for the removal or blocking of such content, with orders to be issued within 24 hours. Additionally, the law allows the authority to require social media platforms to register with it, and establishes a Social Media Complaint Council to handle complaints. The amendments also propose the creation of Social Media Protection Tribunals to resolve cases within 90 days, with appeals allowed to the Supreme Court within 60 days.
