After the issuance of the gazette notification, the new defamation law has been enforced across the province with immediate effect.

Acting Punjab Governor Malik Ahmad Khan signed the controversial Defamation Bill, 2024, into law on Saturday last.

It is worth mentioning here that on May 20, 2024, the Defamation Bill, 2024, presented by the provincial government was passed by the Punjab Assembly despite the reservations and protests of the opposition and journalist organisations.

Under the bill passed by the provincial assembly, apart from TV channels and newspapers, Rs3 million in damages will have to be paid over false news or defamation on Facebook, TikTok, X, YouTube, and Instagram.

Tribunals will be set up to hear the cases, and they will be bound to pronounce judgements within 180 days. High Court benches will hear the cases of persons appointed to constitutional positions.

A petition challenging the controversial Defamation Law, 2024, had also landed in the Lahore High Court (LHC).

The petition was filed by Nadeem Sarwar Advocate, in which Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider, and the provincial government had been made parties.

The petition stated that the defamation law was against the law and the Constitution, adding that a new law could not be made in the presence of the defamation ordinance and the defamation act.

It also said that journalists had not been consulted before presenting the Defamation Bill, 2024, in the provincial assembly, adding that the law had been introduced in haste to control media and journalists.

The petition requested the court to declare the Defamation Law null and void.

It also requested the court to stop the Implementation of the law until the final decision on the petition.