Islamabad High Court bars FIA from arrests under PECA’s Section 20
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Islamabad High Court has stopped the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from making arrests under Section 20 of the PECA Act, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah maintained that the FIA had already submitted standard operating procedures (SPOs) and ordered the Agency to refrain from arresting anyone under Section 20.
Hearing a petition filed by PFUJ against the amendment through presidential ordinance in Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) law, the court issued notice to Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) for assistance in the case.
The IHC Chief Justice warned that the FIA director general and the interior secretary would be responsible if the SOPs were not followed.
During the proceedings, counsel for Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Adil Aziz Qazi told the court that the Senate session had been prorogued on February 17 and National Assembly’s session was due to start on February 18 but it was abruptly adjourned so that the ordinance could be put in force.
On court’s inquiry, Adil Qazi said amendment in Section 20 increases the sentence from three years to five years.
The chief justice remarked that Zimbabwe and Uganda were excluding civil suits from criminal law. Adjourning the hearing, the top judge sought a response from the attorney general on Thursday (tomorrow).
Reporter Ihtisham Kiani