Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider has voiced opposition to the new defamation law. He emphasized that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) stands against it due to concerns over its impact on press freedom.
The Punjab Defamation Act 2024 restricts press freedom. It was signed into law on Saturday by acting Governor Malik Ahmad Khan. Khan, a member of the PML-N, signed the law while Governor Sardar Saleem Haider was on leave in Dubai.
Governor Saleem stated he had tried to block the ‘contentious’ bill. However, it became law 15 days after his refusal to sign it.
PPP Punjab General Secretary Syed Hassan Murtaza pledged that his party would work to withdraw the law. Murtaza stated that PPP was not consulted on the defamation law or the budget. PPP’s legal team is reviewing the legislation. They will try to persuade the provincial government to retract it.
Murtaza clarified that Governor Sardar Saleem Haider’s trip was planned before the legislation was introduced. The defamation law was enacted by the interim governor of Punjab, a member of PML-N, Murtaza added.
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The law has faced widespread criticism from journalists, civil society organizations, and the opposition. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed serious concerns. The HRCP chairman noted that the bill raised troubling issues. They said the proposal for a parallel structure to adjudicate defamation claims contravened fundamental rights.
Journalists have rejected the bill, calling it ‘undemocratic.’ Arshad Ansari, president of the Lahore Press Club, highlighted a protest in the Punjab Assembly. This followed a meeting of the Joint Action Committee on the Defamation Bill 2024. Despite their plea to delay the bill’s passage by a week, it was not accepted.
