LAHORE: The Lahore Defamation Tribunal has ruled in favour of Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari in a defamation case against Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Moeen Ud Din Riaz Qureshi, directing him to pay Rs3 million in damages.
The tribunal issued a brief written verdict, holding Qureshi liable over allegations he made against the provincial minister during a television programme.
Bokhari had filed a defamation suit seeking Rs840 million in damages, maintaining that the allegations were baseless and fabricated and had harmed her reputation and credibility.
The dispute arose after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi visited the Punjab Assembly.
During a television programme, Qureshi alleged that Bokhari had facilitated the entry of 150 to 200 paid individuals into the provincial assembly during Afridi’s visit. He also claimed that journalists who questioned the KP chief minister were paid employees of the Punjab information minister.
According to the tribunal’s judgment, Qureshi acknowledged making the statements during the programme but failed to provide evidence to support his allegations. The tribunal also noted that his legal team could not substantiate the claims during arguments.
Bokhari initiated the proceedings in January 2026 under Section 3 of the Punjab Defamation Act 2024, seeking compensation over the remarks she considered defamatory.
