8
Crl.P. No. 225 of 2023
freedom, equality and justice. The preamble to the Constitution
communicates the intention of its framers and purpose of the
highest law of the land as under:
Whereas sovereignty over the entire Universe
belongs to Almighty Allah alone,
and the
authority to be exercised by the people of
Pakistan within the limits prescribed by Him is a
sacred trust;
And whereas it is the will of the people of
Pakistan to establish an order;
Wherein the State shall exercise its powers and
authority through the chosen representatives of
the people;
Wherein the principles of democracy, freedom,
equality,
tolerance
and
social
justice,
as
enunciated by Islam, shall be fully observed;
The above portion of the preamble enshrines that the State shall
exercise
its
powers
and
authority
through
the
chosen
representatives of the people, who represent them in parliament
and the assemblies. Every citizen has a right of political and social
justice, freedom of speech and thought, subject to a reasonable
restriction imposed by law. In order to protect and promote such
rights, the State must exercise its power and authority in
accordance with the Constitution. Print and electronic media are
the means of receiving and providing such information to and from
the people. We have observed that upon exercise of such right,
politically
motivated
FIRs are
being registered
for
offences
mentioned in section 196 of the Code, mostly against politicians,
political workers, media persons, and human rights activists, and
in some cases against their family members as well. It is hard to
believe that the chosen representatives of the people, political
activists, right activists and media persons can indulge themselves
in anti-State activities. The act of indulging its citizens in malicious