Pak: PTI Plans Legal Challenge Against Punjab’s Defamation Law

PTI has declared its intention to challenge Punjab’s newly enacted defamation law in court, as reported by Pakistan-based Dawn.

The Imran Khan-founded party has even threatened to align with journalists in their protest. During a press conference on Sunday, PTI leader Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachar accused the Punjab government of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) of completing 100 days without addressing key issues.

He criticized the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for allegedly supporting the law. Bhachar stated, “We are with the media on this issue as the PPP stands exposed by its tacit support for the bill.”

Addressing concerns about PTI’s previous attempt to introduce a similar defamation law, Bhachar noted that his party’s government had retracted the decision due to opposition from journalists and civil society.

However, he criticized the current government for ignoring such reservations. Bhachar also questioned the performance of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, accusing her government of taking credit for PTI’s initiatives by renaming them.

Bhachar raised doubts about the implementation of new projects announced by the government, alleging that the focus was on improving its social media image rather than addressing pressing issues.

He claimed that PTI’s initiatives, such as the Kisan Card and hospital revamping, were being renamed under the current administration. Regarding the new cancer hospital in Lahore, Bhachar criticized the government’s allocation of only PKR 300 million, despite earlier claims of a PKR 30 billion budget for the project.