LAHORE: The Lahore High Court(LHC) has issued notices to the federal government and others as it admitted a petition filed against Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act(PECA) 2025 for preliminary hearing.

Justice Farooq Haider conducted hearing on the petition filed by the Federal Union of Journalists, asking court to declare the controversial law null and void.

The petition filed by the Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) states that the PECA Bill was brought without consultation with the relevant stakeholders and journalist organizations. The approval of the PECA Amendment Bill will affect freedom of expression provided in the constitution.

The petition has requested the PECA Amendment Law 2025 to be declared unconstitutional and urged it to be annulled, saying that the PECA Amendment Act contradicts the protection of freedom of expression given in the constitution.

Later, the court approved the petition against the PECA amendment law for a preliminary hearing and issued notices to the federal government and others.

The petition to annul the PECA was filed by Federal Union of Journalists, in which the Election Commission of Pakistan(ECP) and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), including others, were made parties.

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Earleir, President Asif Ali Zardari has officially signed the amended Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2025, making it law.

Earlier, he had delayed signing the bill due to concerns from journalist associations about its impact on press freedom. However, despite protests and requests from the Parliamentary Reporters Association of Pakistan (PRAP) and opposition parties, he has now approved it.