Lahore, June 13: Journalist associations announced they will strongly protest against the controversial Punjab Defamation Law 2024 during the Punjab Budget session in the Punjab Assembly.
Journalist associations decided to initiate the first phase of their protest movement against the newly enacted Punjab Defamation Law 2024.
During the Punjab Budget 2024 session in the Punjab Assembly, all journalists’ associations announced a walk out from the press gallery.
Journalists wore black arm bands in a mark of protest against the law passed targeting journalists.
The next phase of the protest movement of journalists will be a complete boycott of coverage of government events, they said, dunya news reported.
The Punjab Defamation Bill 2024 was passed by the Punjab Assembly on May 20, which was signed by Acting Punjab Governor Malik Ahmed Khan.
Under the Punjab Defamation Law, the offender will pay fine of Rs3 million before trial. On evidence of accusation, the social media account of the offender will be blocked.
Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari claimed that the defamation bill would not affect the working journalists.
“Only those social media influencers are disturbed with this legislation who are involved in insulting someone and earn dollars,” said the provincial information minister.
She was talking to media outside the Punjab Assembly on Thursday.
“We have allocated a hefty amount of 1 billion for the healthcare of journalists’ community,” Azma said.
She added that protest is the right of journalists but the defamation bill has been challenged in court and therefore we should wait for its verdict.
On June 8, the Punjab Defamation Act 2024 was challenged in the Lahore High Court hours after it was signed by Acting Punjab Governor Malik Ahmed Khan.
The petition was filed in the Lahore High Court by journalist Jafar Ahmed Yar and Raja Riaz through Advocate Nadeem Sarwar.
The petitioner said that the defamation law violates the constitution and law, and that the government did not hold consultations with journalists while enacting the new law. He said the defamation law was brought in haste to curb freedom of journalists and media.
The petitioner prayed to the court to declare the defamation law null and void and stop its implementation till a final decision on the petition.
