Reema Khan petitions the LHC to create defamation courts.

Film star Reema Khan filed a plea with the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday, asking for the creation of defamation courts under the Punjab Defamation Act 2024.

The hearing was presided over by Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh.

Jahanzeb Sukhera, Reema Khan’s attorney, contended that the Punjab government must set up the tribunals in accordance with the law. In addition, she demanded Rs1 billion in damages from Shahid Rafique, who she says wrongly accused her of not paying back Rs17.5 million that was purportedly invested in her movie “Love Mein Ghum.”

Reema Khan called Rafique’s claims slanderous and denied ever knowing him.

The Punjab Defamation Act 2024 has had numerous judicial challenges and has been criticized as a restrictive regulation. Sukhera argued that the new statute excluded other legal options by limiting the tribunals’ ability to hear defamation complaints.

He maintained that Ms. Khan has been denied legal remedies because of the delay in the establishment of these tribunals.

The Punjab government’s legal representative told the court that the Defamation Tribunal Rules 2025 have been announced and that the tribunals should be set up following Eid.

The case was postponed until April 10 after the court sent notices regarding Reema Khan’s plea.