Lahore High Court has rejected a plea seeking an immediate suspension of the implementation of various sections in PECA (prevention of the law amending electronic crimes).

The court stated that a decision would be made after hearing the arguments for all parties involved and issued messages to the parties concerned requesting their answers within three weeks, according to Express News.

During the hearing, Justice Farooq Haider noticed that the court would await the attitudes of the parties before making a final decision.

The petition filed by a journalist was presented by lawyer Nadeem Sarwar, who claimed that the amendments to the PECA law were constitutional and would have serious influence on freedom of expression in the country.

The petries claimed that the recent amendments to the PECA Act, which were quickly tense through the National Assembly after circumventing the usual parliamentary procedures, included provisions that would impose serious sanctions, including up to three years in prison and fines to spread false information.

The petries expressed concern that the PECA act, which had previously been used as a tool for dissent, would further limit the remaining freedoms in the country.

The petition also stated that the PECA amendment had been introduced without consulting relevant stakeholders and journalistic organizations that violated the democratic process.

The petries claimed that the changes were in conflict with the fundamental right of freedom of expression guaranteed by Pakistan’s constitution, which made the law constitutional.

The court was asked to declare the PECA change law as constitutional and knock it down. It was also requested that all acts be taken under the amended law until the final decision was handed down.

This case is closely followed as the result can have significant consequences for media freedom and protection of freedom of expression in Pakistan.