In recognition of the constitutional right to critique public institutions, the Lahore High Court declared Section 124-A of the Criminal Law to be in conflict with the Constitution. The Lahore High Court ruled that Section 124-A of the sedition law violates the Constitution. The verdict reserved two weeks prior on identical petitions challenging the sedition law was delivered on Thursday by a single bench of the high court, led by Justice Shahid Karim. Petitioner’s counsel Abuzar Niazi Advocate had argued: “Sedition laws are a legacy of the colonial history which were framed in 1860 and were used against slaves. Pakistan’s constitution gives freedom of expression and opinion to every citizen. Even today, people are being booked under Section 124-A (sedition) over speeches against the government.” During the last hearing, Deputy Attorney General Asad Ali Bajwa represented the federal government. The court had then directed the federal government to submit details of sedition cases filed in 12 months. “The sedition law initially seems very ambiguous,” Justice Shahid Karim had remarked. DAG Asad Ali Bajwa had argued that Section 124-A had been in accordance with the Constitution. PTI leader and former federal information minister Fawad Chaudhry has welcomed the LHC judge’s ruling. بڑی خبر ! لاہور ہائیکورٹ نے فوجداری قانون کی دفعہ 124-A کو آئین سے متصادم قرار دے دیا، ریاستی اداروں تنقید کا آئینی حق تسلیم کر کیا گیا ہے، اس فیصلے سے میرے مقدمے سمیت درجنوں سیاسی بنیادوں پر بنائے مقدمے ختم ہو جاتے ہیں بہت اعلی اور آزادی کے اصولوں کو تسلیم کیا جانیوالا فیصلہ ۔۔ — Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 30, 2023