Lahore tribunal orders Moeen Riaz Qureshi to pay Azma Bokhari Rs84m in defamation suit
LAHORE: The Lahore Defamation Tribunal on Tuesday decided the Azma Bokhari defamation case in the minister’s favour, ordering Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Moeen Riaz Qureshi to pay her Rs84 million in damages over claims he made on a television programme.
The tribunal found that Qureshi had failed to produce any evidence to support the claims he aired against the minister. Under the ruling, he is now liable to pay the full amount claimed in the suit, The Express Tribune reported.
The Azma Bokhari defamation case was filed under the Defamation Act before the Lahore tribunal, which hears such cases under the Punjab Defamation Act 2024. Tuesday’s decision closes the case nearly ten months after it was filed.
The claims behind the Azma Bokhari defamation case
The dispute dates back to remarks Qureshi made during a programme on a private television channel. The opposition leader claimed that Bokhari had arranged for 150 to 200 paid individuals to be brought into the Punjab Assembly during a visit by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.
Qureshi also claimed that journalists who questioned the K-P chief minister during the visit were paid employees of the information minister.
Bokhari rejected both claims as false and fabricated. She filed the suit seeking Rs84 million in damages, telling the tribunal the remarks had damaged her personal, political and public standing. Her petition was backed by video clips, screen recordings and written transcripts of the broadcast.
Counsel says opposition leader admitted he had no evidence
After the verdict, Bokhari’s counsel Ali Bokhari told reporters that Qureshi had conceded during the trial that he could not back his claims. “Alhamdulillah, the court has delivered its verdict in our favour today,” he said.
According to the counsel, Qureshi maintained in court that the statement was his personal observation. However, he could not prove the allegations, and his lawyers were unable to disprove Bokhari’s claims during arguments, 24NewsHD reported.
A ten-month legal fight under the new defamation law
One notable feature of the Azma Bokhari defamation case is its timeline. Bokhari filed the suit in January 2026, weeks after the December 28 television broadcast that triggered it, Pakistan Today reported at the time. She recorded her statement before Tribunal Judge Amanullah Khokhar in June.
Tuesday’s ruling is a brief verdict, and the detailed judgment will be released later. The case was heard under the Punjab Defamation Act 2024, the province’s dedicated law for defamation claims.
The verdict adds to a growing list of high-profile defamation battles in Pakistani politics. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has his own long-running defamation proceedings in the courts, while singer Ali Zafar’s defamation case against Meesha Shafi ended with a Rs5 million fine on the respondent.
Bokhari, who regularly handles the Punjab government’s media responses, recently also denied any provincial role in the detention of journalist Iqrarul Hassan. She serves in the Punjab cabinet led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, who has said governments should be allowed to complete their terms.
FAQ
How much did the Lahore tribunal award Azma Bokhari?
The tribunal ordered Moeen Riaz Qureshi to pay Rs84 million in damages, the full amount Bokhari had claimed in her suit.
What did Moeen Riaz Qureshi allege against Azma Bokhari?
He claimed on a private television programme that Bokhari had arranged for 150 to 200 paid individuals to enter the Punjab Assembly during the K-P chief minister’s visit, and that journalists who questioned the K-P chief minister were on her payroll.
When was the defamation suit filed?
Bokhari filed the suit in January 2026 before the Lahore Defamation Tribunal under the Defamation Act, weeks after the December 28 broadcast that triggered it.
Who represented Azma Bokhari in the case?
Her counsel was Ali Bokhari, who presented arguments on her behalf and spoke to reporters after the verdict.
