The Judicial Activism Panel (JAP), a public interest forum based in Lahore, has strongly condemned the recently passed Punjab Defamation Bill, 2024, labeling it as “draconian” and a violation of court judgments. The bill, passed by the Punjab Assembly amidst protests, has faced backlash from various quarters.
The bill, introduced by Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, has been criticized for curbing freedom of speech and targeting journalists. Civil society organizations have also rejected the bill, citing its infringement on fundamental rights of expression and press freedom.
The bill’s provisions, including initiating defamation actions without proof of damage and imposing heavy fines, have been deemed as authoritarian and regressive. The alliance of civil society groups has called for the bill to be scrapped entirely.
It is crucial for the Punjab government to listen to the concerns raised by stakeholders and reverse this legislation, avoiding another regressive move akin to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). Future efforts to address disinformation and hate speech online should involve inclusive consultations at the national level.