The Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Amjad Rafiq has stopped implementing three defamation law sections of Punjab Defamation Act 2024 conditional on the court's decision. The provincial apex court has implemented Sections 3, 5, and 8 of the law conditional on the court's decision and issued notices to the parties involved.
The LHC has notified the Attorney General for Punjab for assistance. The counsel for the Punjab government opposed the petitions filed by petitioner Riaz, who, along with others, filed the petition through advocate Nadeem Sarwar.
Read more: Despite criticism, Punjab defamation law notified in gazette
The justice inquired how the defamation law was against freedom of expression and fundamental rights. The petition counsel replied that, according to the law, one can proceed against anyone without evidence.
“If the Chief Minister makes a statement, should you bring him to the court? It is wrong,” said the petition lawyer. The lawyer responded, “The Chief Minister should not lie.”
The lawyer alleged, “The Punjab information minister speaks lies from dawn to dusk. According to this law, the accused can be fined Rs. 3 million even before the trial.”
Justice Amjad Rafiq remarked that the law aims to deliver the fastest justice. “This is not a bargain or shopkeeping,” he said.
