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Journalism of Courage
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday struck down Section 124-A of the Pakistan Penal Code, also known as the sedition law, calling it “inconsistent with the Constitution”, The Dawn reported.
The law imposed penalties on offenders guilty of sedition or inciting “disaffection” against the government. Justice Shahid Karim pronounced the verdict in response to identical petitions seeking to annul the sedition law.
According to The Dawn, the sedition law stated: “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.”
One of the petitions against the sedition law, filed by one Haroon Farooq, pointed out that it has been “recklessly used in Pakistan” as a tool of exploitation to curb the right to free speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution.
The petition argued that over the past few years, several politicians, journalists and activists were booked under the stringent Section 124-A.
“Section 124-A Pakistan Penal Code 1860 is an illegitimate limitation and restriction on the legitimate, legal and lawful exercise of the constitutionally guaranteed right of free speech and expression (in particular) and various other constitutional freedoms (in general),” it added.
