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Tense Exchange During Court Proceedings
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) social media activist Falak Javed exchanged heated words in a Lahore courtroom on Wednesday during the hearing of a case concerning the alleged circulation of a fake video attributed to the provincial minister.
The confrontation took place at the Lahore District Courts, where Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo heard the case registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on Bukhari’s complaint. Bukhari appeared before the court and recorded her statement, insisting that she was the complainant in the case and not an accused.
“I am not an accused; I am the complainant in this case,” Bukhari told the court, saying she had suffered because of the circulation of the fake video. “I have suffered a lot. You cannot imagine the pain I have gone through.”
Background of the Case
The case relates to a social media campaign in July 2024 involving a fake and objectionable video purportedly showing Bukhari. The minister told the court that on the night of July 24-25, 2024, she saw posts on Facebook and TikTok claiming a video of her had been leaked. She later saw a post from Falak Javed’s account on X, following which the alleged fake video was widely circulated.
Bukhari said she went to the Lahore High Court the following day and had to wait for around four hours outside the chief justice’s courtroom before her petition was taken up. The high court accepted her plea and ordered action over the circulation of the material.
Courtroom Clash and Intervention
During Wednesday’s hearing, tensions rose when Bukhari and Falak Javed exchanged hot words inside the courtroom. “Have some shame. You also have a daughter. You have just come from jail and there is still no remorse on your face,” Bukhari told Falak. “Don’t teach me what statement I have to give. I am myself a lawyer,” she added.
Bukhari also called Falak a “liar” and told her to be ashamed of herself. Falak responded during the exchange, prompting the court to intervene. The judge emphasized the importance of treating women with respect, stating: “Respect for a woman is very important to us.”
Legal Proceedings
Bukhari had initially sought permission to record her evidence through video link, citing security concerns and her responsibilities as a provincial minister. The judicial magistrate rejected the request in February, and a Lahore sessions court upheld the requirement for her to appear personally.
The Lahore High Court granted post-arrest bail to Falak Javed in the case in April 2026 against surety bonds of Rs1 million. The court fixed September 12 for cross-examination of Bukhari on her statement and directed that only relevant lawyers attend the next hearing.
