Azma Bukhari Wins Defamation Case Against Opposition Leader
News Desk
LAHORE: Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari has secured a major legal victory after a Defamation Tribunal in Lahore ruled in her favour in a case against Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Moin Riaz Qureshi, ordering him to pay Rs84 million in damages.
The tribunal announced its short-form verdict in the high-profile defamation case, while the detailed judgment is expected to be issued later.
The dispute stems from allegations made by Qureshi during a private television programme, in which he claimed that Bukhari had facilitated the entry of 150 to 200 paid individuals into the Punjab Assembly during a visit by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.
Qureshi further alleged that journalists who questioned Afridi were also on the provincial minister’s payroll. The claims triggered a legal response from Bukhari, who rejected the allegations as false and fabricated, arguing that they were intended to damage her political standing and personal reputation.
Subsequently, the provincial information minister approached the court under the Defamation Act, seeking legal recourse over the statements. Her counsel, Ali Bukhari, represented her during the proceedings.
According to the tribunal’s short-form verdict, Qureshi acknowledged making the statements during the television programme. However, the tribunal found that he and his legal team had failed to present credible evidence to substantiate the allegations.
The court also observed that the defendant’s counsel had failed to establish that Bukhari’s defamation claim was incorrect or without foundation. On that basis, the tribunal ruled in favour of the minister and ordered Qureshi to pay Rs84 million in damages.
The ruling highlights the legal consequences that can follow public allegations concerning the conduct and credibility of political figures, particularly when such claims are challenged in court and cannot be substantiated with evidence.
The detailed judgment, expected to follow the announcement of the short-form verdict, may provide further clarification on the tribunal’s reasoning and the legal basis for the damages awarded.
