Punjab defamation law: Media bodies announce boycotting assemblies' proceedings

After the controversial Punjab Defamation Bill, 2024, became law, the central Joint Action Committee (JAC) of media bodies announced a boycott of government coverage. This includes official events such as National Assembly and provincial assembly sessions and the upcoming federal and provincial budgets, in protest against the legislation.

Acting Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan signed the controversial bill into law on Saturday.

The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), and Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) held an emergency meeting to discuss the development and decided to record their protest against the law.

Terming the Punjab Defamation Bill, 2024, as against human values, the meeting announced a joint struggle against the “black law” and committed to taking effective legal action against it.

The media bodies decided to consult with political parties and bar councils and to approach the United Nations and other national and international human rights organizations against the controversial law. They also announced plans for demonstrations outside relevant government offices in protest against the defamation law.

Planned

Reacting to the signing of the bill, Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari criticized the Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) deceptive attitude, accusing the party of deceiving journalists.

"The bill was signed by the acting governor by sending the Punjab governor on leave under a plan," said Ansari.

The senior journalist added that while the PPP appeared to support journalists, it was colluding with the provincial government behind the scenes. Ansari indicated that a meeting of the action committee would be called soon to announce future strategies.

Law Challenged in LHC

Soon after its approval, the law was challenged in the Lahore High Court by journalist Jaffar Ahmad Yar and citizen Raja Riaz. The petitions named Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the governor, and the provincial government as respondents. The petitioners argued that the defamation law is unconstitutional and redundant given the existing Defamation Act. They lamented that journalists were not consulted before the law was passed and accused the government of hastily introducing the law to control the media. The petitions requested the court to invalidate the "draconian" law.

The Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Defamation Bill, 2024, on May 20 amid strong and noisy protests from the opposition and significant backlash from journalists and rights bodies, including international organizations.