Punjab Minister Azma Bokhari Wins Defamation Suit Against Opposition Leader Moeen Qureshi

Lahore’s Defamation Tribunal has ordered Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari’s accuser, opposition leader Moeen Ud Din Riaz Qureshi, to pay Rs 3 million in damages. The tribunal’s written decision, issued in a brief judgment, concluded that Qureshi’s statements on a television programme were unfounded and caused serious harm to the minister’s reputation.

Bokhari had filed the case in January 2026 under Section 3 of the Punjab Defamation Act 2024, seeking Rs 840 million in compensation. She argued that Qureshi’s remarks, which were aired on TV and widely shared on social media—including the official Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI) accounts—reached millions and tarnished her dignity and credibility.

The controversy began after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi visited the Punjab Assembly. Qureshi claimed that Bokhari had arranged for 150 to 200 “paid” individuals to enter the assembly during the visit and that journalists who questioned Afridi were on the provincial information minister’s payroll. In the tribunal’s judgment, Qureshi acknowledged making the statements on television but was unable to produce any evidence to support them. His legal team also failed to substantiate the accusations during the hearing.

The tribunal noted that the allegations were broadcast and circulated widely, causing reputational damage to the minister. Consequently, Qureshi was ordered to pay Rs 3 million to Bokhari.

Afridi’s three‑day trip to Lahore, which began on 26 December 2025, included political engagements and the contentious assembly visit. The visit was marked by clashes between members of his delegation and security personnel.