LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has urged the chief justice of Pakistan to bring about reforms in the defamation laws so that without evidence no body could be defamed in the country.

“Defamation laws in Pakistan are weak. CJP Asif Saeed Khosa should do a favour to the nation and bring about changes to defamation laws so that in the future no one could dare defame someone without evidence,” Chaudhry Shujaat said in a statement issued here on Saturday.

The PML-Q chief said CJP Khosa had given a landmark ruling on the false/fake witness. “We urge the Supreme Court to also take action against those involved in false testimony/witness and allegations,” Shujaat said, adding he was perhaps the only politician in the country who sued a newspaper in the UK for wrongly accusing him of getting loans written off.

“The newspaper not only published an apology on its front page but also bore expenses of our lawyers both in Pakistan and London after losing the case in the London court,” he said.

Meanwhile, PML-Q leader MNA Moonis Elahi has said Saudi Arabia will fund construction of Bhasha and Mohmand dams and other energy projects.

In connection with the arrival of Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammad Bin Salman here on Sunday (today), Moonis tweeted: “Great days up ahead for Pakistan. Saudi Arabia to fund construction of Bhasha, Mohmand dams and other energy projects. $20 billion Saudi support to lead Pakistan into a new era of prosperity.”

At a time when the country is struggling with the dwindling foreign exchange reserves, Pakistan is expecting a highest-ever investment announcement to the tune of about $21 billion during the visit of the Saudi prince.

Bashing the Indian government, Mr Moonis said: “India is falsely accusing Pakistan of Pulwama (attack).

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2019