Lahore (Staff Report/Agencies): The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday annulled Section 124-A, of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), dealing with sedition.
LHC judge Justice Shahid Karim invalidated Section 124-A of the PPC, which pertains to the crime of sedition or inciting “disaffection” against the government, terming it inconsistent with the Constitution.
The court the pronounced the judgment today which was reserved on the petitions of Selman Abuzar Niazi and others challenging the sedition law on grounds that the government used it against its rivals.
The petitions had challenged the registration of cases under sedition provisions against those who spoke against the government.
It was argued in the petition that the sedition act was enacted in 1860 which is a sign of British colonial rule.
It added that this law was used for slaves under which a case can be registered on anyone’s request.
“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.