Lahore: Former Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Parvez Elahi Tuesday got a big relief from the Lahore High Court (LHC) as his bail application in the case of recruitment in the Punjab Assembly was approved.

Justice Sultan Tanveer of LHC issued a protective decision. During the hearing, Parvez Elahi’s lawyer Amir Saeedran told the court that anti-corruption registered the case two years late.

Lawyer Amir said that Parvez Elahi did not receive any recruitment money from any candidate, he had nothing to do with this recruitment. The anti-corruption made a fake recovery from Elahi's residence.

On this, the anti-corruption lawyer stated that the case against Parvez Elahi has been registered according to law, he was arrested on October 25, 2023.

Later, the Lahore High Court reserved the decision.

It is pertinent to note that on March 27, 2024, the court rejected Parvez Elahi's bail application, after which he again filed the application in the court.

The court had reserved its decision on March 26 after the arguments of the lawyers were completed.

Later on April 28, the High Court fixed Pervez Elahi's petition for hearing in May.

Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a bilateral meeting with Tajikistan Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting in Astana.

The two Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral cooperation and high-level dialogue further.

They underlined the early implementation of CASA-1000 project and other connectivity and regional integration projects for mutual benefit of the two countries and the wider region.

Lahore: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Tuesday said that a black law is being implemented.

Speaking to the media outside Lahore's Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC), Omar stated that they will resist the black law in the national and provincial assemblies.

He stated that according to the constitution, no one’s speech can be banned.

Omar Ayub added that whoever talked about Ayub Khan's martial law, ask him what Nawaz Sharif did.

He further said that Babar Awan has explained the whole law to the court. ‘I am grateful to the court who gave justice. I don't have the will to travel all over Pakistan in one day, these are all false cases’.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Babar Awan added that the Chief Minister and Law Minister are insulting the court. The law made to arrest the journalists will not work, they will approach the court against it.

He stated that PTI stands with the journalists. The Dubai Leaks case should be opened immediately, the work of the judiciary is to uphold the rights of the people.

It is pertinent to note that the Punjab Assembly had approved the Defamation Bill 2024 yesterday.

The opposition called the bill a black law and tore up copies of the bill in protest.

Journalists also walked out of the press gallery and protested on the stairs of the Assembly against the bill while calling for nationwide protests.

Defamation Bill

The Defamation Bill 2024 will apply to print, electronic and social media. The defamation cases can be filed on false and untrue news spread.

The bill will also apply to fake news spread through YouTube and social media, the action will be taken on news spread to harm personal life and public space.

Tribunals will be set up for defamation cases, which will be bound to decide within six months. Under the defamation bill, the damages will be Rs3 million.