LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Monday evening bulldozed the controversial defamation bill 2024 after rejecting all amendments sought by the opposition to the draft.
The bill was passed even after assurance by the chief minister that the journalists bodies would be taken on board. Minister for Information Azma Zahid Bukhari had said the basic aim of the Punjab Defamation Bill 2024 was to eliminate fake news.
After opposition to the draft by the journalist bodies, the chief minister had decided to meet the journalists’ representatives at the assembly on Monday. However, a meeting of the representatives of journalists was arranged with the information minister and the former sought a delay to the passage of the bill. But the assembly later passed the bill.
The Joint Action Committee of journalists had already rejected the bill and termed it a bid to gag the freedom of expression.
After the passage of the bill, reports boycotted the house and held a protest. they said the government had stabbed them in the back. They said that the journalists would continue their protest against the draft law aimed at muzzling the press and social media.
The bill after becoming law would put restrictions on social media including Youtube. Any content scandalizing a citizen or an institution would be considered as a defamation leading to damages of up to Rs3 million.
There will be tribunals which will hear defamation cases and will decide them within six months.
Comments are closed.