On Tuesday, more than 80 civil society organizations protested against the Punjab Defamation Bill (2024), which had been passed by the provincial assembly the previous day.
The provincial assembly passed the Defamation Bill, 2024, rejecting all amendments proposed by the opposition amidst protests by the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) and journalists covering the parliamentary proceedings.
SIC members tore apart copies of the bill after it was passed through a voice vote in the House. The bill, vetted by Special Committee-1 in the absence of standing committees, was tabled by Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman. The PML-N government refused to delay the voting on the bill, even for a week, despite journalists’ requests.
During the session, press gallery members walked out of the assembly in protest, rejecting the bill as a “curb on free media.”
A press release issued by civil society and journalists stated that they outrightly reject the Punjab Defamation Bill, calling it a gross infringement on the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and press freedom.
The press release described the bill as a “draconian and regressive” tool designed to suppress dissent and criticism, specifically targeting journalists and the general public.
“Its explicit mandate of safeguarding ‘public officials’ against defamation is nothing short of an authoritarian maneuver, designed to shield those in power from accountability and scrutiny,” it stated.
The press release further criticized the bill’s provisions, which allow defamation actions to be initiated without proof of actual damage and impose exorbitant fines, labeling these as legal intimidation tactics.
Additionally, the bill’s broad definition of “journalists” and “newspapers” to include social media users was seen as setting a dangerous precedent for stifling freedom of expression online.
“The proposed punishments, including the possibility of blocking social media accounts, are disproportionate and antithetical to democratic principles,” it added. The alliance urged the Punjab government to listen to civil society and stakeholders and reverse the effort to pass another regressive legislation akin to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
It called for the defamation bill to be “scrapped entirely” and demanded the governor of Punjab to refuse to sign the bill. It also emphasized that future attempts to address disinformation and hate speech on online platforms should be initiated with inclusive consultations at the national level.
Opposition leader Shibli Faraz, Barrister Ali Zafar, and other PTI leaders walked out of the Senate in protest against the defamation bill passed by the Punjab assembly. “The bill brought forward by the Punjab government regarding media is condemnable,” Faraz said while addressing the Senate.
