Petition filed in SC to halt 'campaigning' against national institutions

Six citizens filed a petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) on Tuesday to stop the trend of ‘campaigning’ against national institutions, ARY News reported. 

The common petition was filed by six citizens from different cities.

According to details, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), and the Federal Government have been named in the petition.

The petitioners claimed that the freedom of expression provided to the citizens of the country through Article 19 of the constitution also has some limits. The government should compile a code of conduct to halt the trend of passing derogatory remarks against national institutions, the petition added.

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It added that the government should ensure the implementation of the code of conduct and stop the humiliation of government employees and national institutions. The government should be ordered to reconsider the free speech laws in the country, the petition read.

Article 19 of Pakistan’s constitution states that ‘Every citizen has the right to freedom of speech and expression, and there shall be freedom of the press, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defense of Pakistan or any part thereof, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, 1[commission of] or incitement to an offense.’