Reema Khan, the renowned film star, filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday, seeking the establishment of defamation tribunals under the Punjab Defamation Act 2024.
The petition, heard by Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh, was filed by Khan’s lawyer, Jahanzeb Sukhera, who argued that the Punjab government should establish the tribunals as mandated by the law. Khan is seeking Rs1 billion in damages from Shahid Rafique, who allegedly accused her of failing to repay Rs17.5 million that he had invested in her film Love Mein Ghum.
Reema Khan vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that she had no knowledge of Rafique and labeled his accusations as defamatory. Under the Punjab Defamation Act 2024, cases of defamation can only be heard by the specially established tribunals, not through traditional legal channels. Sukhera emphasized that the delay in the formation of these tribunals had deprived Khan of the opportunity to seek legal recourse and a fair hearing.
A law officer representing the Punjab government informed the court that the Defamation Tribunal Rules 2025 had already been notified, and the tribunals were expected to be established after Eid. In light of this, the court issued notices on Reema Khan’s petition and adjourned the case until April 10, giving the government time to establish the tribunals and address the petition’s concerns. The case highlights the ongoing legal challenges surrounding the Punjab Defamation Act 2024, a law that has faced criticism for its restrictive nature.
