The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued notices to all relevant parties in response to a petition challenging the PECA Amendment Law 2025. However, the court declined the request for an immediate suspension of various provisions of the newly enacted law.
During the hearing, Justice Farooq Haider stated that a decision would be made after hearing all parties involved. The court has sought responses from the respondents within three weeks.
The PECA Amendment Law 2025 introduces stricter penalties for “fake news,” expands state oversight of digital platforms, and establishes new regulatory bodies for social media monitoring. Despite strong opposition from political parties, media organizations, and human rights groups, President Asif Ali Zardari signed the bill into law on Wednesday.
The petition against the law was filed a day earlier in the Lahore High Court by journalist Jafar Bin Yaar through Advocate Nadeem Sarwar. The petitioner argued that the bill was passed hastily without consulting key stakeholders.
As the case proceeds, the legal battle over digital rights and media freedom in Pakistan is expected to intensify.
