Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has won a major legal battle after a Lahore court issued its final order in the Azma Bokhari defamation case. The Defamation Tribunal in Lahore directed Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Moeen Qureshi to pay her Rs84 million in damages over accusations he made during a television broadcast.
Origin of the television dispute
The dispute began following remarks made by Qureshi regarding a visit to the Punjab Assembly by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. During a television programme, the opposition leader claimed that Bokhari had organised between 150 and 200 paid individuals to enter the provincial assembly premises during the visit.
In the same appearance, Qureshi made further claims against the provincial minister, alleging that the reporters who asked questions to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister were paid staff on Bokhari's payroll. Bokhari rejected all the allegations as baseless and moved the court to seek legal recourse under defamation laws.
Tribunal findings and damages
Bokhari filed the formal petition before the Defamation Tribunal in Lahore under the Defamation Act, seeking Rs84 million in compensation for harm caused to her reputation. Her counsel, Ali Bokhari, represented her throughout the hearings and presented arguments before the presiding officer.
After reviewing the statements and evidence submitted during the proceedings, the tribunal accepted the information minister's petition and ordered Qureshi to pay the full Rs84 million in damages sought in the Azma Bokhari defamation case.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Punjab ki wazir-e-ittilaat Azma Bokhari ne opposition leader Moeen Qureshi ke khilaf defamation ka case jeet liya hai. Lahore ke defamation tribunal ne Moeen Qureshi ko hukum diya hai ke woh ilzamaat lagane par 8 crore 40 lakh rupay damages ada karein. Yeh faisla television par lagaye gaye jhoote ilzamaat ke baad samnay aya hai.
