LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the provincial government and other respondents on another petition challenging the Punjab Defamation Act 2024.

Justice Amjad Rafiq heard the petition filed by Punjab Union of Journalist (Workers) President Ziaullah Khan Niazi.

Barrister Harris Bhatti argued on behalf of the petitioner that the defamation law was against basic human rights and the Constitution.

He claimed that the government made the law to silence the public and suppress freedom of expression. He said the government was employing it to avoid public criticism.

The lawyer raised concerns about the provision in the law that allows a fine of up to Rs3 million before a trial even takes place. He asked the court to declare the impugned law unconstitutional.

The judge adjourned further hearing till Sept 30.

Justice Rafiq has already linked any proceedings under “The Defamation Act 2024” to the final decision on the pending petitions challenging the law.

At a previous hearing, Advocate General of Punjab (AGP) Khalid Ishaq told the court that no proceedings had so far been started under the impugned law.

He said the petitioners were merely speculating that something was about to happen, but no action had been taken under the law yet.

He also clarified that neither tribunals had been formed nor rules framed under the law. He was of the view that no aggrieved party had so far filed a petition.

However, Justice Rafiq made an observation that it was not necessary that only an aggrieved person could challenge a law made in violation of fundamental rights.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2024