Amid outrage against amendments in the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), the federal government has decided that the newly promulgated ordinance would not be implemented “without appropriate safeguards”. Sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune late Tuesday that Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Jawed Khan met Prime Minister Imran Khan before his departure for Russia. The AGP office sources revealed that the government has agreed that it would not implement new Peca ordinance until it is not regulated through "safeguards" which would be added in the rules. It is also learnt that the AGP will appear before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday and would apprise the court of government’s position in this regard. The incumbent government on Monday defended the newly promulgated ordinance amid heavy criticism from all corners. Prime Minister Imran Khan called the censure unwarranted for amid opposition parties’ announcement that they would challenge the “draconian” law in courts and parliament – the forum that the ruling party avoided while making online “defamation” a non-bailable offence. Also read: Govt defends PECA move amid heavy criticism In a meeting with the party leaders, sources said, the prime minister dubbed the condemnation of the ordinance by the opposition parties and others uncalled for, saying that the ordinance would deter people from tarnishing others’ respect and dignity. “Such laws were deliberately not made in the past, which led to ruining morality of the youth.” The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the media bodies have also taken a tough stance against the government after the amendments in the Peca, calling the government's engagement with the media bodies over media laws a “farce”. In a statement by the JAC, comprising All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND), said the dialogue with the government over the legislation regarding media was being suspended “until the draconian amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) are reversed”. “The information minister [Fawad Chaudhry] is toying with the media fraternity in the guise of engagement and keeps passing ordinances against freedom of speech while giving the impression that media fraternity is being engaged,” the statement said.
from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | eTribune https://ift.tt/ETHN8MX
No comments:
Post a Comment