Acting Punjab Governor Malik Ahmad Khan signs Defamation Bill 2024
Pakistan
The Defamation Bill 2024 was passed by the Punjab Assembly on May 20
- Opposition, journalists decry controversial clauses in the law
- The bill has been challenged in Lahore High Court
LAHORE (Dunya News) - Acting Punjab Governor and Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan on Friday signed the highly controversial Punjab Defamation Bill 2024, Dunya News reported.
The bill was passed by the Punjab Assembly last month after which it was sent to Punjab Governor Sardar Salim Haider for approval. The governor refused to sign the bill while expressing some reservations. After that the Punjab government held a meeting with the governor, which did not prove fruitful.
According to sources, after the meeting with the governor, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) contacted President Asif Ali Zardari and the latter advised the governor to go on leave.
The Punjab governor went on leave from June 6 to 12 after which Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan assumed the charge as acting governor and signed the bill the very next day (June 7).
The Governor House confirmed signing the Defamation Bill 2024 by the acting governor. After signing the bill, the summary was sent to the Ministry of Law which will issue a notification. After the notification, the defamation law will formally come into force in Punjab and will apply to every citizen.
PUNJAB ASSEMBLY
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.
Opposition leader in Punjab assembly Ahmed Khan Bhachar said the Defamation Bill 2024 was a "black law". He made the remarks after all the amendments proposed by the opposition benches were rejected by the House. During the session, the lawmakers from the opposition benches made a noisy protest and tore copies of the bill.
Journalist leaders were of the view that the government stabbed them in the back after holding negotiation over the bill.
HOW WILL THE LAW WORK
According to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led Punjab government, the bill deals with misinformation on social media platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, allowing defamation cases to be filed against those peddling fake news.
The defamation bill proposes fine up to Rs3 million for spreading fake news and special tribunals to hear defamation cases, with quick verdicts expected. The tribunal can take a decision in six months.
The bill further specifies that the high court will handle cases involving allegations against individuals holding constitutional posts.
