A plea to halt the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2025’s implementation was denied by the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday.

Justice Farooq Haider of the LHC said that after the respondents’ responses were received, a judgment about the stay order would be taken.

A journalist named Jaffar bin Yar filed the case, and the judge later sent notices to all parties and requested a response within three weeks.

Advocate Nadeem Sarwar, the petitioner’s attorney, represented him in the high court.

He has designated the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Election Commission of Pakistan, and other organizations as responders.

According to the petitioner, the PECA Amendment Bill was adopted by the National Assembly last week, and the lower house of parliament
suspended its rules to fast-track the approval process of the bill. 

He went on to say that disseminating false information can result in penalties and up to three years in jail under the PECA statutes.

The petitioner contended that there had previously been abuses of the law. It is anticipated that the nation’s already limited freedom will be further curtailed with the introduction of new punishments under the amendment act.

He added that the contentious law was introduced without first consulting journalistic organizations and pertinent stakeholders, citing concerns that it would stifle the constitutionally protected right to free speech.

He urged the court to declare the PECA Amendment Bill unlawful and to declare it void.He went on to say that disseminating false information can result in penalties and up to three years in jail under the PECA statutes.

The petitioner contended that there had previously been abuses of the law. It is anticipated that the nation’s already limited freedom will be further curtailed with the introduction of new punishments under the amendment act.

He added that the contentious law was introduced without first consulting journalistic organizations and pertinent stakeholders, citing concerns that it would stifle the constitutionally protected right to free speech.

He urged the court to declare the PECA Amendment Bill unlawful and to declare it void.