Defamation bill to affect press freedom: APNS
ISLAMABAD – Hamid Haroon, a member of the All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS), said that the government had included “tough clauses” in the draft bill of defamation, which were “against the freedom of the press, democracy and human rights”.
Mr Haroon told BBC that Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat must review these laws again. “I am unable to understand why Shujaat says that there is no link between these clauses and the press,” said Mr Haroon. “I think this bill will directly affect the freedom of the press because if you look into the 2002 ordinance, newspapers, publishers, reporters and editors are mentioned in the law.”
The government of Pakistan has presented a draft bill in the National Assembly under which the defamation law will be strengthened. The bill also suggests stricter punishments and heavy fines against violators.
Source: Daily Times
Date:8/3/2004
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