Fida Hussnain Lahore
The session of the Punjab Assembly, chaired by Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, witnessed a heated debate on Monday as the government tabled a controversial Defamation Bill 2024.
The Opposition parties and journalists both staged vigorous protests against the bill at the premises of the assembly.
During the session, the controversial bill was presented by Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, fanning strong opposition from within the Punjab Assembly.
Opposition leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bachar led the uproar on the floor of the house, with members vehemently protesting against the said Bill.
The opposition termed the bill as “black law” and made it clear that they would not accept the black deeds, displaying placards against the bill from their seats. They rejected the bill, and demanded the government to withdraw it.
Opposition leader Ahmad Khan Bachar while presenting arguments in favor of his amendments contended that the Defamation Bill 2024 was a draconian law and they would not be part of it. Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman opposed sending the bill back to the committee, saying that the matter had already been extensively debated. “Sending it back to the committee was unnecessary,” said the minister.
The journalists also protested vehemently against the Bill by boycotting the assembly session and staging loud demonstrations on the stairs of the provincial assembly.
Arshad Ansari, President of the Lahore Press Club, criticized the government’s crackdown on the media fraternity, stating that the recent events were undemocratic.
Ansari said that the previous government, when it promulgated the PECA Ordinance, was vehemently opposed by the PML-N. He said the journalists would not tolerate any black law affecting the press freedom.
