PPP faced media trials more than PM Imran Khan: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that PPP had faced more media trials during its tenure as compared to PTI government led by PM Imran Khan.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that PPP had faced media trials during its tenure as compared to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, while addressing the party workers during Awami March, said that PPP showed tolerance despite facing media trials during its government in the Centre.
The PPP chairman has seemingly slammed back-to-back actions against the journalists, media houses and social media criticism against the PTI government led by PM Imran Khan under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) law.
He said that former president Asif Ali Zardari had faced media trials during his tenure in an organised campaign by Jang and Geo media groups to malign the ruling PPP.
The statement came forth after the PTI government introduced tougher law that had been enforced through the PECA amendment ordinance.
PECA promulgation
President Arif Alvi had promulgated two ordinances on Sunday that would bring changes in the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, (PECA) 2016, and the Elections Act, 2017.
Both laws were signed by the president after the Cabinet approved them. The changes made in the electronic crimes act have been made under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance, 2022.
FIA has 96,000 cybercrime complaints pending under PECA, says PM
Under the ordinance, the definition of a “person” has been broadened to include any company, association, institution, organisation, authority, or any other. Furthermore, anyone found guilty of attacking a person’s “identity” will now be sentenced to five years instead of three years.
The ordinance also states the informant or the complainant shall be “aggrieved person, his authorised representative, or his guardian, where such person is a minor or a member of the public in respect of a public figure or a holder of public office”.
Cases falling under PECA will be supervised by a high court and the trial court will have to conclude the case within six months, the state news agency reported.
While elaborating the PECA amendment ordinance, PM Imran Khan ruled out concerns over the law by calling it a move to suppress the freedom of expression. He clarified that PECA amendments have no connection with the freedom of expression.
PECA case: IHC stops FIA from detaining people
He said that the law had been introduced in 2016 that aims to stop fake news and dirt from social media.
The premier criticised that a journalist had written three years ago that PM’s wife left the home and the same journalist spread the fake news against regarding the premier’s wife again.
Political analysts said that PECA 2016 had been introduced by Nawaz Sharif-led government and it was used to witchhunt the political opponents by the past governments.
They said that the newspapers had been dictated in Nawaz Sharif’s first tenure as instructions were issued by the accountability bureau’s chief Saifur Rehman at that time to block or release a news story.
During the second tenure of Nawaz Sharif, renowned journalist Najam Sethi had been sent to jail for writing a column against his government. Moreover, many newspapers including the Jang media group had faced closure by the authorities, they added.
Analysts said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had tried to strengthen the PECA law to curb harassment cases and fake news. Moreover, it will also expedite the court proceedings in defamations cases.
