LAHORE
\nThe controversial Punjab Defamation Bill, 2024, has become law after acting Governor Punjab signed it.
\nThe bill that garnered immense criticism, particularly from journalists and digital rights activists, received the final nod from, who currently holds the position of acting governor in the absence of Punjab Governor Sardar Salim Khan, as per the sources.
\nThe sources added that Governor Sardar Salim has gone on leave.
\nThe Punjab Assembly, on May 20, passed the Punjab Defamation Bill, 2024 amid a strong and noisy protest by the opposition as well as immense backlash from journalists and rights bodies including those based internationally.
\nReacting to the development, Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari slammed the Pakistan Peoples Party\u2019s (PPP) deceptive attitude, saying that the party deceived journalists.
\n\u201cThe bill was signed by the acting governor by sending the Punjab governor on leave under a plan,\u201d said Ansari.
\nThe senior journalist added that the PPP was apparently with the journalists and was conniving with the provincial government from within.
\n\u201cA meeting of the action committee will be called soon and future strategy will be announced,\u201d said the journalist.
\nMeanwhile, soon after its approval today, the law was challenged in the Lahore High Court.
\nThe petitions challenging the law have been filed by journalist Jaffar Ahmad Yar and a citizen Raja Riaz. In the pleas filed by the two individuals, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the governor, and the provincial government have been nominated.
\nThe petition stated that the defamation law is against the constitution and law. It added that a new law cannot be made in the presence of the Defamation Act.
\nThe plea lamented that journalists were not consulted before the passing and approval of the defamation law.
\n\u201cDefamation law was hastily introduced to control the media,\u201d the petition maintained, requesting the court to invalidate the \u201cdraconian\u201d law.
\nThe Punjab Assembly, on May 20, passed the Punjab Defamation Bill, 2024 amid a strong and noisy protest by the opposition as well as immense backlash from journalists and rights bodies including those based internationally.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE The controversial Punjab Defamation Bill, 2024, has become law after acting Governor Punjab signed it. The bill that garnered immense criticism, particularly from journalists and digital rights activists, received the final nod from, who currently holds the position of acting governor in the absence of Punjab Governor Sardar Salim Khan, as per the sources. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-411714","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n