• February 21, 2022
• Freedom of Expression

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday observed that “criminalisation of defamation and its abuse, prima facie, appears to be in violation of the Constitution” and the “threat to free speech… cannot be tolerated in a democratic society governed under the Constitution”. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah made these observations while hearing the petitions […]

• February 21, 2022
• General News

ISLAMABAD: Registering a strong protest against what is believed to be a blatant attempt to curb freedom of expression through a controversial ordinance, representatives of media and journalist organisations on Monday walked out from a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and vowed not to hold any further engagement with the […]

• February 21, 2022
• Media and Governance

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan, his party leaders and spokespersons on Monday rejected criticism of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Amendment (PECA) Ordinance 2022 as unwarranted. A meeting, chaired by the prime minister, said that no one could be vilified now after promulgation of the ordinance. The meeting also decided that the elements indulging in […]

• February 21, 2022
• General News

ISLAMABAD: A local court in Islamabad has fined journalist and anchorperson Najam Sethi over seeking acquittal in a defamation case for delivering misleading statements against Prime Minister Imran Khan and First Lady Bushra Bibi, ARY News reported on Monday. The district and session judge Islamabad conducted the hearing of Najam Sethi’s acquittal plea in a […]

• February 21, 2022
• General News

Despite claiming to have found leads in the case of journalist Athar Mateen’s killing, police are yet to arrest the culprits. A case of the killing was, however, registered on Sunday under a section of the Anti-Terrorism Act. An FIR No 87/22 was registered on the complaint of the deceased journalist’s brother Tariq Mateen at […]

• February 21, 2022
• Social Media

ISLAMABAD: In another move to regulate social media despite criticism from stakeholders and digital rights activists, the government is all set to promulgate an ordinance declaring defamation of people and institutions on social media a cognizable offence, with jail term being increased from two to five years. The drafts of the proposed legislations, including an […]

• February 21, 2022
• Social Media

Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Punjab on Information and Spokesperson Government of the Punjab Hasaan Khawar has said that together with our media fraternity, government is making strides to support the digital transformation of media in Punjab. In pursuit of the same, Punjab Government Digital Media Advertisement Policy 2022 has been drafted under the […]

• February 21, 2022
• Freedom of Expression

KARACHI: Pakistan’s top media bodies, APNS, CPNE, PFUJ, PBA and AEMEND, have rejected the “draconian” amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, saying it is a blatant move to stifle media independence, freedom of speech and dissenting voices. In a joint statement, they said that they will take all legal actions to […]