Image Source: Mint
Pakistan’s government has proposed legislation to amend the Penal Code (PPC) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). According to the bill, anybody who disparages the Pakistani army or courts would face up to five years in prison, according to ANI, quoting Dawn news.
The Pakistan Ministry of Law and Justice reviewed the proposed law. The Ministry of Interior began it for the Prime Minister and the federal cabinet. The purpose of the soon-to-be proposed measure is outlined in a cabinet summary, since social media has recently been replete with criticism of the army and judiciary.
According to sources, the law will be presented to the federal cabinet shortly. The bill, the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2023, proposes a new Section 500A. The new part is headed “Intentional mockery or scandalization of public institutions, etc.”
According to the new bill, anyone who publishes or distributes information through any medium with the intent to ridicule or scandalise the judiciary, the armed forces, or any of their members will be guilty of an offence punishable by simple imprisonment for a term of up to five years, a fine of up to one million Pakistani rupees (PKR), or both.
Meanwhile, Section 500A has been amended to specify that the offender will be arrested without a warrant and that the charge will be non-bailable and non-compoundable. The arrest can be challenged in a session court.
According to the cabinet summary, Pakistan has lately experienced a series of scandalous, insulting, and savage attacks on several state institutions, including the judiciary and the military forces, as reported by Dawn.
According to Dawn, such attacks aim to undermine the integrity, stability, and independence of Pakistan’s governmental institutions. While appearing in the media, judicial and military authorities do not have the ability to come forward and refute insulting and scandalous statements.