Consultation with all stakeholders important over Defamation Bill: Punjab governor

LAHORE: Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has said that consultation with all stakeholders on the Defamation Bill is very important. He stated this while talking to representatives of media who called on him at the Governor House over the controversial Defamation Bill 2024 passed by the Punjab Assembly a week ago.

Under the Punjab Assembly Rules of Procedure, the Bill has to receive Governor’s nod first and he can refer it back to the PA for a review. Under the law, the bill, after being reviewed by the assembly is sent back to the Governor and even if he raises any objection, it becomes a law and cannot be referred back to the elected House for another consultation. The PPP, an ally of the PMLN government in Punjab, has raised objections to the bill, two days after its passage. PPP-Punjab Parliamentary leader Ali Haider Gilani had told media that party had not been consulted over the bill. Talking to the guests, the Governor said that he would try his best to bring together all the stakeholders for consultation on the defamation bill in the next few days. A Joint Action Committee of Journalist Organisations called on Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan. The delegation comprised representatives of the CPNE, PBA, PFUJ, APNS, Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMAND). Irshad Arif, President CPNE, Arshad Ansari, President Lahore Press Club/Secretary PFUJ, Senior Vice President of APNS, Imtinan Shahid, former President CPNE Kazim Khan, Muhammad Usman, Vice President, Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMAND), Tariq Mehmood, General Secretary Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors, Naveed Kashif, Pakistan Broadbasters’ Association and Muhammad Usman, Vice President AEMAND were present in the meeting.

PPP Central Punjab General Secretary Hasan Murtaza, former MPA Makhdoom Murtaza Mehmood, Shehzad Saeed Cheema Information Secretary Central Punjab were also present. The representatives of journalistic organizations informed the Governor about their reservations on the Defamation Bill 2024. Meanwhile, a delegation of the Pakistan Peoples’ Party Chiniot met the Governor under the leadership of Divisional President PPP, Syed Inayat Ali Shah and District President Syed Ali Raza. District General Secretary Syed Kaleem Ali Ameer and party workers were included in the delegation.

Governor Saleem Haider Khan said that Governor House is open to party workers and people of Punjab. He also assured the delegation to convey their demand of speeding up the construction of the Chiniot campus of GC University to quarters concerned. He said that the scope of the Benazir Income Support programme would be expanded to include more deserving people. He said that the Faisalabad-Chiniot Road has been made a part of the Annual Development Programme after he invited the attention of the Punjab government towards it. The members of the delegation thanked the Punjab governor for the approval of the road.