LAHORE: Punjab Information Minister Uzma Bukhari and the lawyer representing an accused exchanged heated words during a hearing of a case involving the alleged circulation of a fake video of the provincial minister.
A local court in Lahore heard the case, with Judicial Magistrate Naeem Watto presiding. Uzma Bukhari appeared before the court and recorded her statement as the complainant.
The provincial minister appeared in court alongside her counsel, Ali Bukhari. Speaking at the rostrum, she clarified that she was not an accused but the complainant in the case and said she had been wronged.
Regarding a tweet concerning her, Bukhari said a YouTuber had posted that arrest warrants had been issued against her and asked that he be told when such warrants had been issued. The YouTuber subsequently apologised to Bukhari in the courtroom.
Bukhari told the court that the matter concerned the dignity of a woman. She said a fake video of her had been created and circulated and that the anguish she had experienced could not be described. She also said that, due to security concerns, she had requested permission to record her statement through video link.
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The court remarked that women were highly respected and said its decisions demonstrated how such cases were dealt with. The court further observed that the delay in the case had not been caused by the court, adding that associates had repeatedly appeared and sought adjournments.
On the court’s orders, accused Flak Javed was produced before the court, after which Bukhari recorded her statement.
After the provincial minister completed her statement, the accused’s lawyer, Ali Ashfaq, said that at least six hours would be required for cross-examination.
The court fixed September 12 for cross-examination on Bukhari’s statement and adjourned the hearing.
