Punjab govt sets up dedicated cell to handle defamation cases

LAHORE: The Punjab government has set up a dedicated Defamation Litigation Cell within the Office of the Advocate General to handle legal cases involving alleged defamatory statements against the provincial government, its departments and public officials.

According to an official notification, the cell will operate under the Advocate General Punjab and comprise legal officers, consultants and other relevant staff. Advocate General Zafarullah Khan issued the order, with copies sent to the chief secretary and the law and parliamentary affairs department.

The move comes after Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz issued a Rs5 billion defamation notice to Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain over his remarks alleging corruption in Punjab.

The notice, sent through her legal counsel, accused the minister of making unsubstantiated claims during an interview with ARY News and demanded damages over the alleged reputational harm.

ARY News and its reporter Naeem Ashraf Butt have also received legal notices over the broadcast of the interview.