ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday claimed that the government would not pass the recent amendment to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Act, given if it negatively impacted the freedom of expression.
Speaking to the media persons outside the Parliament on Wednesday, Rana Sanaullah said that the government would consult journalists’ representative bodies and other stakeholders on the bill and withdraw it if it restricts the freedom of expression.
He, however, pointed out that there were some negative things on social media that needed to be controlled, saying these “negative things” adversely impacting personal lives of people.
It is to be noted that amendment to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Act empowers the watchdog to act against those spreading rumours against state institutions on social media.
Last week, cabinet members approved a summary on circulation from the Ministry of Interior about amendments in the schedule of the FIA Act, 1974, including an amendment empowering it with Section 505 (statement conducing to public mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The interior minister also stressed that if the bill was against the freedom of expression then “we won’t pass it and won’t be with it.”
He said the government would introduce the bill in the parliament and try to achieve consensus but if the journalist community said it infringed their rights then it would not be passed.
Sanaullah said people’s private lives were being affected due to social media which was a “serious matter”.
He added that the government was looking into an amendment that could solve this issue without harming the freedom of expression and called on journalists and the media community to provide guidance.
It is important to mention here that in April last, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) struck down an ordinance, promulgated by the PTI government, making amendments to the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act.
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah had issued a four-page order explaining how Section 20 of the law, which criminalises defamation, flew in the face of freedom of expression, a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution.
