PTI leaders dub Defamation Bill, 2024 ‘black law’

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA) and PTI leader Omar Ayub Khan said on Tuesday that all cases registered against him and other PTI leaders were bogus and fabricated, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Talking to the media outside an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore with other party leaders standing alongside him, he, while referring to the Defamation Bill, 2024 passed by the Punjab Assembly late Monday night, said it was a ‘black law’. “We will oppose the legislation both in the Punjab Assembly as well as in the National Assembly,” he vowed.

Omar said that as per the constitution, nobody could be stopped from expressing his or her point of view.

Referring to the statement made by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif recently in the NA in which he had demanded public hanging of the late military dictator Ayub Khan, the PTI leader said the minister should be reminded of the relationship his leader Nawaz Sharif had with late military dictator Ziaul Haq.

Talking to the media, another PTI leader Babar Awan accused Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz of committing contempt of court.

Referring to the defamation bill, he said the bill had been passed to stifle dissent. “It is meant for gagging the media,” Awan said, adding, “The law will be challenged in the courts, which will throw it out.”

Speaking on the occasion, Aleema Khan, sister of former prime minister and ex-PTI chairman Imran Khan, said when anybody fell sick in jail, he or she should be looked after.

She went on to say that if courts were convinced that she and others were involved in the May 9 riots, then they better send us all to jail; or in other case, set us free. “But please do not trust us in this way; do not insult us,” she said, adding, “I appeal to the Lahore High Court chief justice to order the immediate release of innocent PTI leaders and workers languishing in jails.”

Aleema said all judges should bear this thing in mind that at the end of the day, they would be held accountable by the Almighty Allah for their verdicts. “Police are there to protect, and not to harm, us,” she said.

Another PTI stalwart Azam Swati said that cases should be registered against those who had implicated the PTI leaders and workers in false cases. “We have made a mockery of the law in Pakistan,” he opined.

Anti-terrorism court extends interim bails of PTI leaders

Later, the ATC extended the interim bails granted to PTI leaders Zain Qureshi, Omar Ayub, Fawad Chaudhry, Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan and Asad Umar until June 29 in the May 9 cases of violence.

Reporter: Jamaluddin Jamali