ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has turned down a petition moved by Shireen Mazari, a former rights minister and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) MP, which called for a colonial-era sedition law to be scrapped.
In her petition, Mazari challenged Section 124-A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which pertains to sedition, accusing the government of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) of trying to suppress dissent after it was invoked against Shahbaz Gill, chief of staff to former prime minister Imran Khan.
The law carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Athar Minallah, chief justice of the court, heard the petition and, in a short order issued Saturday, declared it non-maintainable. He observed legislation was the sole prerogative of Parliament and his court won’t intervene in the process.
A detailed verdict is expected to be issued later.
The law reads: “Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards, the federal or provincial government established by law shall be punished with imprisonment for life to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine.”
The plea had contended that the clause was contrary to the fundamental rights mentioned in the Constitution, adding that such cases were constituted to suppress criticism and the right to freedom of expression.
