Defamation law challenged in LHC

Lahore: The defamation law passed by the Punjab Assembly was challenged in the Lahore High Court (LHC).

The petition was filed in the LHC by journalist Jaffar Ahmed Yar and Raja Riaz through advocate Nadeem Sarwar. The chief minister and governor of Punjab through the principal secretary and Punjab government have been made parties in the petition.

It has been contended in the petition that the defamation law is contrary to the constitution and the law. In the presence of the defamation ordinance and the defamation act a new law cannot be made.

The petition filed said that the defamation law was not consulted with the journalists and was brought in haste to control journalists and media.

In the application, the court has been requested to declare the defamation law null and void and to stop its implementation till the final decision of the application.

It is pertinent to note that the Governor House has confirmed the signing of the Defamation Bill by Acting Governor Punjab Malik Ahmed Khan. After signing, the summary was sent to the Ministry of Law, which will soon be gazetted.

After the notification, the defamation law will formally come into force in Punjab and will apply to every citizen.