A delegation from the Joint Action Committee (JAC) in a meeting with the leadership of the Muttahida Qaumi-Pakistan Movement on Saturday called the recent amendment to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) via an order a “restriction fundamental right to freedom of expression”. expression”.

The Media Organizations JAC called the head of MQM-P, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and Federal Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunications Syed Aminul Haq to the party’s central office at Bahadurabad in Karachi.

Members of the delegation included representatives of AEMEND, CPNE, PBA, APNS and PFUJ. Participants in the meeting included Tahir A Khan, Dr. Jabbar Khattak, Amir Mehmood, Shakeel Masud, Nazafreen Saigol, Shahab Zuberi, Ijazul Haque, Hafiz Tariq, Zahid Mazhar, Shahab Mahmoud, member of Rabta Committee and Assembly of Sindh Javed Hanif and members of the MQM-P Information Service Office.

The meeting held a detailed discussion on the recent PECA Amending Ordinance. The JAC delegation expressed reservations, stating that this decision was an obstacle to the fundamental right to freedom of expression.

Expressing MQM-P’s position on the PECA amending ordinance, Siddiqui maintained that his party always stands with the journalist community in difficult times. “The MQM-P will never support any move to gag the media.”

Read MQM-P leader asks PM Imran to drop idea of ​​amending PECA

Haq, while referring to his written letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan, called for involving all stakeholders in the PECA order.

Siddiqui noted that the MQM-P had been the victim of “heinous propaganda” through false and baseless news.

He said that only effective legislation through consultation can ensure strong media where the protection of individual rights and freedom of expression is possible.

He said MQM-P was ready to become the voice of the media on all platforms and the party would raise the issue in parliament and expand cooperation for freedom of expression.

Haq expressed hope that Prime Minister Imran, after realizing the seriousness of the situation, would hold a meeting with all stakeholders and pave the way to address the issue after listening to concerns from journalist circles.

Meeting attendees expressed gratitude to Siddiqui and Haq for writing the letter to Prime Minister Imran and taking a “clear stand” in favor of press freedom.