LHC stops enforcement of Punjab Defamation Act, 2024

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday ordered the non-enforcement of the controversial defamation bill, which was signed into law by the acting Punjab governor Malik Ahmad Khan a few days ago.

During the hearing of the petition filed by Jaafar Ahmad Yar and Riaz Ahmad Raja, seeking annulment of the law or Punjab Defamation Act, 2024, Justice Muhammad Amjad Rafiq of the LHC linked the operation of the Defamation Law to the verdict of the court in this case.

The LHC judge also issued notices to the respondents, including the Punjab government, and sought their replies. 

Punjab Additional Advocate General (AAG) raised objections to the admissibility of the plea for the hearing.

Petition against ‘defamation law’ declared admissible in LHC

 “The petition is not fit to be admitted for the hearing,” he said.

The court also issued notices to the attorney general and advocate general, seeking their legal assistance.

Justice Rafiq asked whether the law was against the right of free speech.

The petitioner’s lawyer replied that there was a clause in the law, which slapped Rs3 million in fine on the alleged offender without proof even before the start of the trial.

The legislation about defamation became law on Saturday after acting Punjab Governor Malik Ahmad Khan, a PML-N member, gave his assent to the bill in the absence of PPP Governor Sardar Saleem Haider, who had gone on leave after assuring bodies of journalists and other stakeholders ‘consultations’ on the law.