A Lahore Defamation Tribunal has ruled in favour of Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari in her defamation case against Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Moeen Ud Din Riaz Qureshi. The tribunal ordered him to pay Rs3 million in damages.
In a brief written judgment, the tribunal directed Qureshi to pay the provincial minister that sum over claims he made about her during a television programme.
Bokhari sought Rs840 million over alleged false accusations
Bokhari had sued Qureshi for Rs840 million. She argued that he had made baseless, invented accusations that damaged her reputation and credibility.
Remarks followed Afridi’s visit to the Punjab Assembly
The dispute stemmed from comments Qureshi made after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi visited the Punjab Assembly. Qureshi had claimed that Bokhari allowed 150 to 200 paid individuals into the assembly during the visit, and that journalists who questioned Afridi were paid staff of the provincial information minister.
According to the judgment, Qureshi admitted making the statements on television but did not produce evidence to support them. The tribunal also observed that his lawyers could not establish the claims during their arguments.
Afridi arrived in Lahore on December 26, 2025, for a three-day trip that included political engagements and a visit to the assembly. That visit was marked by scuffles between members of his delegation and security personnel.
Petition filed under the Punjab Defamation Act 2024
Bokhari approached the Lahore Defamation Tribunal in January 2026 under Section 3 of the Punjab Defamation Act 2024. Her petition said the allegations were aired on television and spread on social media, including through the official PTI account, reaching millions of people.
The minister maintained that the statements had seriously harmed her reputation, dignity and credibility.
