Azma wins Rs84m defamation case against Moeen Riaz Qureshi

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has won an Rs84 million defamation case against Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Moeen Riaz Qureshi, with the Lahore Defamation Tribunal ruling in her favour on Tuesday.

Bokhari had filed the lawsuit under the Defamation Act over allegations made by Qureshi during a television programme concerning the visit of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister to the Punjab Assembly.

According to Bokhari’s counsel, Ali Bukhari, Qureshi had accused the minister of bringing more than 100 paid individuals into the Punjab Assembly during the visit. He had also alleged that journalists who questioned the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister on the occasion were paid employees of the minister.

Speaking to the media after the verdict, Ali Bukhari said Qureshi had failed to provide evidence to support his allegations during the trial. He added that the opposition leader had acknowledged during the proceedings that he had no evidence to substantiate his claims.

The counsel said Qureshi had defended his remarks as a personal observation but could not establish their truth before the tribunal.

Following the ruling, Qureshi was held liable to pay Rs84 million in damages to Bokhari.