After conspiracy allegations, PPP says no hand in dictatorship-style defamation law
A day after the highly controversial Punjab defamation bill became law, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Governor Saleem Haider tried to dissociate the party from the legislation, saying the PPP is against the defamation law.
“I tried to stop the [passage] of the defamation bill as Governor,” he stated while speaking to media in Dubai.
Interim Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan signed the bill into law in the absence of Haider while journalists called the move deceiving.
The Governor, who is currently on leave also added, “I did not sign the bill. However, it will become law automatically after the passing of 15 days.”
The bill has invited strong criticism from journalists, human rights organisations, and the opposition calling it a “black law.”
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also expressed grave concern over the defamation bill.