Pakistan-administered Kashmir The government has amended Section 505 of the Penal Code 1860 to make criticism of the government an impeachable offence, after which cases can be registered against people who criticize the president, prime minister, ministers, government officials and other personalities. will
According to the law, the minimum punishment for conviction is seven years imprisonment. Journalists, lawyers and civil society have expressed concern over this amendment and called it ‘Freedom of expression Attack on’ has been declared.
In Pakistan-administered Kashmir, news about the ‘Defication Act’ had been doing the rounds for the past several months.
Once an attempt was made to present the draft of this act in the Kashmir Assembly, which was strongly protested and boycotted by the journalists present in the assembly.
After protests by journalists, the act was stopped and a committee comprising Kashmir Law Minister Mian Abdul Waheed and Member of Assembly Ahmed Raza Qadri spoke to journalists to clear concerns and consult on the act.
There were several rounds of talks, in which it was decided that the ‘De-Defamation Act‘ would be brought forward in consultation with the journalists and the full consent of the journalists would be sought before passing it.
But after the passage of more than two months, no progress has been made on this act.
In a session of the Kashmir Legislative Assembly held a few days ago, instead of any discussion on the Act, the Government introduced the Penal Code First Amendment Ordinance 2024, which was to be submitted to the Majlis Muntabla before final approval. The decision was made.
The elected assembly consisted of Kashmir Law Minister Mian Abdul Waheed, Senior Minister Col. Waqar Noor, Communications Minister Azhar Sadiq and Leader of the Opposition Khawaja Farooq, which agreed to the proposed amendment and referred it to the House and moved to approve the amendment. was carried, after which the House unanimously approved the amendment.
After this news came to the fore, various schools of thought, especially journalists, have been criticizing the government of Kashmir on social media and other platforms.
Independent Urdu spoke to Central Bar Kashmir president Nasir Masood in this regard, who said that this law is nothing but a violation of basic human rights in Kashmir.
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“Not only an ordinary citizen will be affected by this law, but lawyers and journalists will also be affected and everyone who criticized the government will be silenced.”
“We are going to challenge it in the judiciary and will protest against the matter personally as well as on behalf of the Central Bar,” Nasir Masood added.
Wahid Iqbal Butt, the president of Central Journalism Council, the largest journalistic organization of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, expressed his views in this regard and termed it as ‘an incident of the government’.
He said that the government wanted to make a defamation law, but when there was a reaction from journalists, the government did its work here instead of this law.
“This move of the government is a complete ban on freedom of expression and we will challenge it in the judiciary along with human rights organizations, bar council and journalistic organizations.”
President of Civil Society Muzaffarabad Shahid Awan also termed this law as an ‘attack on freedom of expression’ and said that it will not be accepted in any case and challenged it in the judiciary as well as launched a movement against it across Kashmir. will go.’
Independent Urdu contacted Kashmir Law Minister Mian Abdul Waheed and Kashmir Law Secretary to know the government’s position in this regard, but no position was given by them.
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#Pakistani #Kashmir #Concerns #law #punish #criticism #president #prime #minister
2024-09-15 17:41:18
What are the implications of the recent amendments to the Penal Code 1860 in Pakistan-administered Kashmir for freedom of expression?
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Attack on Freedom of Expression: Pakistan-Administered Kashmir’s New Law Raises Concerns
In a move that has sparked widespread criticism, the government of Pakistan-administered Kashmir has amended Section 505 of the Penal Code 1860, making criticism of the government an impeachable offence. The new law, which has been termed as an “attack on freedom of expression” by journalists, lawyers, and civil society, has raised concerns about the restriction of fundamental human rights in the region.
The Amendments and Their Implications
The amended law stipulates that anyone criticizing the president, prime minister, ministers, government officials, and other personalities can be booked under Section 505 and punished with a minimum of seven years imprisonment. This move has been met with strong opposition from various quarters, who argue that it is an attempt to muzzle dissent and freedom of expression.
Background and Controversy
The controversy surrounding the new law has its roots in the “Defamation Act” that was proposed earlier this year. The draft of the act was met with strong protests from journalists, who boycotted the Kashmir Assembly session where it was supposed to be presented. After multiple rounds of talks, it was decided that the “De-Defamation Act” would be brought forward in consultation with journalists, and their consent would be sought before passing it. However, more than two months have passed, and no progress has been made on the act.
Government’s Move Raises Eyebrows
Instead of revisiting the Defamation Act, the government introduced the Penal Code First Amendment Ordinance 2024 in a recent session of the Kashmir Legislative Assembly. The ordinance was approved by the assembly, much to the dismay of journalists and civil society.
Reaction from Journalists, Lawyers, and Civil Society
Journalists, lawyers, and civil society have been vocal in their criticism of the new law, terming it as an attack on freedom of expression. Central Bar Kashmir president Nasir Masood has criticized the law, saying that it is a violation of basic human rights in Kashmir and will affect not only ordinary citizens but also lawyers and journalists who dare to criticize the government. Wahid Iqbal Butt, president of the Central Journalism Council, has also expressed his concerns, stating that the government’s move is a complete ban on freedom of expression.
Challenges and Protests
The opposition to the new law is gaining momentum, with lawyers, journalists, and civil society organizations vowing to challenge it in the judiciary and launch protests across Kashmir. The Central Bar Kashmir has announced that it will challenge the law in court, while the Central Journalism Council has pledged to fight against it alongside human rights organizations, bar councils, and journalistic organizations.
Government’s Response
Independent Urdu contacted Kashmir Law Minister Mian Abdul Waheed and Kashmir Law Secretary to seek their response to the criticism, but they were unavailable for comment.
Conclusion
The new law in Pakistan-administered Kashmir has sparked a heated debate about the importance of freedom of expression and the role of governments in protecting human rights. As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the criticism and whether it will reconsider the amendments to the Penal Code 1860.
Keywords: Pakistan-administered Kashmir, freedom of expression, Penal Code 1860, defamation act, journalists, lawyers, civil society, human rights.
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How does the new law in Pakistan-administered Kashmir affect freedom of expression?
Pakistan-Administered Kashmir: New Law Sparks Concerns over Freedom of Expression
In a move that has sparked widespread concern among journalists, lawyers, and civil society, the government of Pakistan-administered Kashmir has amended Section 505 of the Penal Code 1860, making criticism of the government an impeachable offense. The amendment, which has been met with strong opposition, has been dubbed as an “attack on freedom of expression” by many.
What does the law entail?
The amended law states that anyone who criticizes the government, including the president, prime minister, ministers, government officials, and other personalities, can be charged and punished with a minimum of seven years’ imprisonment. The law has raised eyebrows, with many arguing that it is a blatant attempt to stifle dissent and silence critics.
Background of the law
The law was first introduced as a draft bill, known as the “Defamation Act,” several months ago. However, it was met with strong protests from journalists, who boycotted the session of the Kashmir Assembly where the draft was to be presented. The government subsequently formed a committee to consult with journalists and address their concerns. However, after months of supposed consultations, the government introduced the Penal Code First Amendment Ordinance 2024, which was approved by the Kashmir Legislative Assembly without any discussion on the original draft bill.
Reactions to the law
The law has been widely condemned by journalists, lawyers, and civil society. Nasir Masood, the president of the Central Bar Kashmir, has termed the law as a “violation of basic human rights in Kashmir.” He stated that the law would not only affect ordinary citizens but also lawyers and journalists, effectively silencing anyone who criticizes the government.
Wahid Iqbal Butt, the president of the Central Journalism Council, has also expressed his opposition to the law, calling it an “incident of the government.” He stated that the government’s move was an attempt to stifle freedom of expression and that his organization would challenge the law in the judiciary.
Shahid Awan, the president of Civil Society Muzaffarabad, has also termed the law as an “attack on freedom of expression” and has vowed to challenge it in the judiciary and launch a movement against it across Kashmir.
Government’s silence
Despite repeated attempts, the Kashmir Law Minister Mian Abdul Waheed and the Kashmir Law Secretary refused to comment on the government’s position on the law.
Implications of the law
The law has far-reaching implications for freedom of expression in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. It effectively criminalizes dissent and criticism, making it difficult for citizens to hold their elected representatives accountable. The law also has the potential to stifle the growth of a vibrant and independent media, as journalists may be reluctant to report on issues that criticize the government.
Conclusion
The amended law has sparked widespread concern
