The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday while extending the stay order on section 20 of the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act (Peca) Amendment Bill 2022 barred Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) from carrying arrests.

Chief Justice IHC Justice Ather Minallah while hearing the plea against FIA remarked that DG FIA would be responsible if any arrest would be made under section 20.

During today's hearing the CJ remarked that whenever an ordinance is prepared it has to get green signal from both the Houses.

Replying to CJ's remarks Attorney General Khalid Javed said that the approval can be taken from even one House over which the CJ remarked that the ordinance was considered to be rejected if any of the Houses vote against it.

CJ while terming the ordinance as 'draconian law' remarked that FIA was doing self censorship through the said law.

The CJ further remarked that non-implementation of already devised standard operating procedures (SOPs) was worst thing.

The IHC while conducting the hearing on a plea filed by Pakistan Union of Journalist (PUJ) extended the stay order on section 20 and ordered to strictly follow the SOPs.