The Lahore High Court (LHC) has referred petitions challenging the Defamation Law 2024 to the Chief Justice, requesting that the matter be taken up either by him or by a larger bench for further proceedings.

In a written order issued on Wednesday, Justice Anwar Hussain directed that the Chief Justice may decide whether to hear the case himself or constitute a larger bench in view of the legal questions involved.

The court observed that law officers had raised key constitutional and legal points during the hearing, including references to previous rulings such as the property ownership law case.

It also noted that tribunals envisaged under the defamation law have yet to be established, terming it an important interim aspect requiring consideration.

During the proceedings, counsel for the petitioners opposed referring the matter to the Chief Justice, arguing that arguments in the case were largely complete and that transferring the case at this stage was unnecessary.

They maintained that all judges have equal jurisdiction to decide the matter and contended that proceedings were already being initiated against petitioners under the same law.

The petitioners’ lawyers further argued that the provincial government lacked constitutional authority to enact the defamation law, describing the issue as one of significant public importance that warrants an early and decisive ruling.