On May 27, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) pledged its support to journalist organizations opposing the recently passed defamation bill by the Punjab Assembly.

Representatives from various journalist organizations met with MQM-P chairman Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and other party leaders at the MQM-P’s Bahadurabad office in Karachi. The delegation included leaders from the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND), Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), and the Karachi and Lahore press clubs.

Representatives voiced their concerns about the Punjab Defamation Bill 2024, passed by the Punjab Assembly on May 20. The Bill allows for the establishment of special tribunals to address “fake news” and was passed by the provincial Punjab Assembly without stakeholder consultations. Under the law, fines can be imposed and social media accounts can be blocked of those found to be spreading defamatory content.

The MQM-P leaders stressed the importance of transparency and consultation before enacting any law. Dr. Siddiqui criticized the lack of consultation with relevant organizations in the defamation bill’s passage, calling it a breeding ground for distrust. He urged the Bill’s immediate withdrawal to initiate a proper consultation process.

“The MQM-P will never support any law that protects the elite and harms the weak,” he affirmed, assuring journalists of the party’s support for their legitimate demands and promising to raise the issue in various forums, including the federal cabinet.