Punjab Information Minister Uzma Bukhari has won a defamation case against Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Moeen Riaz Qureshi, with the Lahore Defamation Tribunal ordering him to pay Rs3 million in damages on October 20, 2026.
Bukhari had filed the case in January, seeking Rs800 million in compensation over statements Qureshi made during a television programme. He had alleged that she arranged for 150 to 200 paid individuals to enter the Punjab Assembly during a visit by then Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. He also claimed that journalists who questioned Afridi were paid employees of the provincial information minister.
Bukhari rejected the allegations and said they harmed her reputation. Her lawyer, Ali Bukhari, presented arguments before the tribunal.
In its short order, the tribunal awarded Rs3 million in general damages but dismissed her requests for special and punitive damages. The detailed judgment is expected to explain the court’s reasoning.
The ruling marks a legal victory for Bukhari, although the amount awarded is much lower than the compensation she originally sought.
