Punjab Defamation Act 2024 challenged in Lahore High Court

LAHORE, June 08 (SABAH): The Punjab Defamation Act 2024 has been challenged in the Lahore High Court hours after it was signed by Acting Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan.

The petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court by journalist Jafar Ahmed Yar and Raja Riaz through Advocate Nadeem Sarwar. In the petition, the Punjab chief minister and governor through principal secretary and Punjab government have been made parties.

The petitioners have taken the stance that the defamation law violates the constitution and law. In the presence of the defamation ordinance and the defamation act, a new law cannot be made.

The petitioners said the government did not make consultations with the journalists while enacting the new law. The petitioners said the defamation law was brought in haste to curb freedom of journalists and media.

The petitioners prayed to the court to declare the defamation law null and void and stop its implementation till a final decision on the petition.

Earlier, the Governor House confirmed signing the Defamation Bill by Acting Punjab Governor Malik Ahmed Khan.

A summary to the effect has been sent to the Ministry of Law for its gazette notification. After issuance of the notification, the defamation law will formally come into force in Punjab and will be applicable on every citizen.

The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) had vehemently rejected the controversial Defamation Bill 2024 passed by the Punjab Assembly, denouncing it as a serious assault on press freedom and branding it a “black law”.

The CPNE argued that the bill, rushed through without due consideration, not only establishes a parallel judicial system but also empowers self-styled tribunals to impose hefty fines ranging from Rs3 million to Rs30 million.

The body in a statement expressed deep concerns that the bill would provide the administration with unchecked authority to suppress dissenting voices. “Under no circumstances will the CPNE accept such draconian legislation and stands ready to protest alongside other journalistic organisations,” the statement read.

The Defamation Bill 2024, which was presented by Punjab Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, was passed by the Punjab Assembly on May 20 amid protests by the opposition and journalists.

“Subject to the provisions of this Act and any other law for the time being in force, defamation shall be a civil wrong and the person defamed may initiate an action under this Act without proof of actual damage or loss and, where defamation is proved, general damages shall be presumed to have been suffered by the person defamed,” reads the bill.

The bill will also apply to fake news spread through YouTube and social media platforms. Under the law, tribunals will be set up to hear the defamation cases. The tribunals will be bound to decide the case within six months.