Punjab Assembly Passes Anti-Journalists Bill Tabled by PPP

After the rejection of the Sindh Protection of Journalists and other Media Practitioners bill by Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, a PPP member surprised everybody when he tabled a bill in Punjab Assembly to arrest and prosecute journalists for breach of privileges.

The Privileges (Amendment) Act 2021 was tabled by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MPA Usman Mehmood, which empowers arrest of journalists, bureaucrats, and lawmakers without a warrant within the precincts of the assembly.

However, the rejection of the Journalists Protection bill was heavily criticized by PPP leaders including Murtaza Wahab who was of the view that the democratic Sindh government passed the Act but it was turned down by the governor.

Meanwhile, the use of ‘reasonable force as may be necessary’ was also allowed in the new proposed law.

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Notably, the bill to arrest journalists was not on the agenda but was passed by the majority in Punjab Assembly on Tuesday.

Upon the breach of the privileges, the speaker can write for the direct arrest of the journalists.

The Act further calls for a judicial committee of the assembly to try offenses and award punishments.

Whereas, the sentence announced by the committee will serve the same status as the sentence by a 1st class magistrate.

The complaint made by any member of the body may result in six months jail term and a fine of up to Rs 10,000.

The law includes offenses like misrepresenting any speech made by a member of the assembly that too wilfully, publishing any prohibited report without consent, any interpretation upon the conduct of the chair, or any other imputation.

However, the bill awaits the signature of the governor to be enacted as a law.