LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari on Wednesday appeared before a judicial magistrate to record her statement as the complainant in the fake video case.

In her statement, Bokhari detailed the severe emotional distress and trauma she experienced after discovering fabricated and defamatory clips circulated across social media accounts in 2024.

She claimed that the matter was directly related to a woman’s dignity and honour rather than an ordinary dispute. She said if a provincial minister faces such public malice, ordinary citizens must endure even greater agony.

The minister explained that she first noticed a post claiming her video had been released and upon opening X (formerly twitter), she found a tweet by the suspect, PTI activist Falak Javed, which led to the video going viral.

She requested the court for a swift conclusion of the case, saying the proceedings have been delayed for a year.

Bokhari pointed out that due to security concerns, she initially wanted to record her statement via video link, but she presented herself before the court in compliance with its orders.

Defense counsel Mian Ali Ashfaq said he would require at least four hours for cross-examination of the complainant/minister.

During the proceedings, an exchange of harsh words erupted between Bokhari and the suspect, who was produced from jail.

Lawyers from both sides also exchanged heated arguments, prompting Magistrate Naeem Wattoo to intervene and order to maintain the courtroom decorum.

The magistrate adjourned proceedings and scheduled Sept 12 for the cross-examination of Bokhari’s testimony.

Previously, a magistrate and a sessions court had dismissed pleas by Bokhari seeking permission to record her online statement as complainant in the case.

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) had registered a case on Bokhari’s complaint regarding the circulation of a fake video.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2026