PTI to challenge Punjab Defamation Act 2024 before court

Lahore: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday announced its intention to challenge the Punjab defamation law before the relevant court.

 The announcement was made by Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachar, the opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly, in a statement on Sunday.

Criticizing the Punjab government’s performance, Bhachar stated that passing the Punjab Defamation Act 2024 and creating difficulties for farmers by failing to purchase their wheat were notable actions taken by the Punjab government in its first 100 days.

Bhachar also criticized the PPP, accusing it of claiming to be democratic while allegedly supporting the defamation act's enactment.

He argued that both the PML-N and PPP were fundamentally similar.

Bhachar affirmed that his party supports journalists and will contest the defamation law in court.

He pointed out that the Punjab government announced Rs30 billion for a new cancer hospital but only allocated Rs300 million, which he deemed insufficient even for a five-kilometer road.

He also mentioned that the health cards and farmer cards were originally PTI projects, which the PML-N was now presenting as its own.

Bhachar questioned the originality of PML-N's initiatives, accusing the Punjab government of merely rebranding PTI-launched projects in hospitals.

Additionally, he noted that the farmer card had been renamed the Nawaz Sharif card.

The opposition leader asserted that the PML-N's primary focus was taking action against the PTI.

Bhachar concluded by highlighting the PTI's demand for a 10 percent wage increase for government employees, citing a 25 percent rise in inflation over the past three months.