Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday summoned the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) to assist the requests challenging the prevention of the Electronic Crime (Amendment) Act 2025.
Justice Anim Amin Minhas heard the petition filed by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Anchor Association.
Advocate Imran Shafiq appeared on behalf of PFUJ and Advocate Riazat Ali Azad represented the Anchor Association.
PFUJ President Afzal Butt, Senior Enckerperson Hameed Mir, Adnan Haider and President of Islamabad Union of Journalists Tariq Verk were also present.
Advocate Shafiq, taking the arguments forward, raised a point that the PECA bill was approved in a hurry and even some parts of the law were given the wrong number.
“The law is full of mistakes … The applicant has two contradictory definitions. Similarly, under the law, the complaint authority is the one that operates under the PEMRA law.
The court replied that there is definitely a fake news issue. He asked the lawyer, “whether fake news is published or not.”
Advocate Azad argued that the forum was a Supreme Court for appeal against the tribunal decision (which means it does not include any proper procedure). He said stakeholders were not consulted before the controversial bill was approved.
“A journalist will be forced to disclose his source. In such cases, how can one get information from a means? Only the weather situation will be reported, “he said, demanding the cancellation of the law.
Pafog’s Head Afzal Butt said he was not in favor of fake news. He argued that “we do not support the violation of absolute freedom or rules, but there should be no law in violating fundamental rights.”
The court summoned the Attorney General for Pakistan for help. He assured the applicants that he would sympathize with his point of view saying that “you can file a miscellaneous application.”
The court later adjourned the hearing till the date of deciding.
A few days ago, the Anchor Association and the PFUJ challenged the prevention of the Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2025 in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Islamabad High Court Bar Association President Advocate Riaz Ali Azad filed a petition by senior encryption Hamid Mir, Naseem Zahra, Adnan Haider and Aamir Abbas. Advocate Imran Shafiq represents PFUJ.
He requested the court to cancel the law.
The amendment to the PECA Amendment Bill 2025 has already been challenged in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
A citizen, Mohammad Qayyim Khan, filed a petition and made the President, Speaker of the National Assembly, Senate Chairman and Secretary of Law.
The petitioner claimed that the latest amendments to the law violate the basic human rights and constitution provisions and request the Apex court to revoke the amendment and set up a complete bench to hear the case.
He demanded that “the court should also review the actual packa.
The amended law has already become controversial before it is enforced. A few days ago, President Asif Ali Zardari approved the controversial protest of the PECA Amendment Bill 2025 by opposition and journalists.
Earlier, the Senate approved the controversial bill and the Digital Nation Bill 2025 following the approval of the National Assembly.
Federal Prime Minister Nazir Tarar on behalf of the Home Minister and Federal Minister for Industry and Tanveer Hussain prepared the bills for several days by Federal Prime Minister Nazir Tarar and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain on behalf of the Home Minister.
