LAHORE: District Court in Lahore held hearing in the case involving the alleged circulation of a fake video of Punjab Minister Azma Bukhari, in which PTI social media activist Falak Javed and others are facing proceedings. During the hearing, Azma Bukhari filed a contempt of court petition against Falak Javed’s lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq.
Azma Bukhari’s counsel argued that during the previous hearing, Mian Ali Ashfaq had pressured the court to issue warrants for Azma Bukhari. The counsel maintained that pressuring or attempting to influence the court falls within the scope of contempt of court and requested proceedings against Falak Javed’s lawyer.
Mian Ali Ashfaq, while opposing the contempt petition, argued that Azma Bukhari had failed to appear for cross-examination at the previous hearing. He said that where a complainant fails to appear despite court orders, the law provides room for issuance of warrants. He maintained that the contempt petition was an attempt to delay the proceedings.
Azma Bukhari’s counsel argued that the issue of pressure had been mentioned in the court’s previous order. He said courts never come under anyone’s pressure and that it was incorrect to suggest that the court was under pressure from the complainant. He again requested contempt proceedings against Falak Javed’s lawyer.
The counsel further said that Azma Bukhari had an issue with the presence of media in the courtroom. He said there was no issue with mainstream media, but objected to people allegedly spreading false information on social media through X. According to the counsel, a YouTuber had apologized during the previous hearing, while another person who allegedly continued to spread false information was also present in the courtroom.
The counsel alleged that tweets were posted after court proceedings and that posts claimed Mian Ali Ashfaq had silenced Azma Bukhari. He further alleged that Mian Ali Ashfaq needed social media activists because they campaigned in his favour. The counsel also alleged that a person who had left the courtroom during the previous hearing later posted tweets about the proceedings.
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During the hearing, an application seeking exemption from Azma Bukhari’s personal appearance was also filed. Her counsel said that an application was pending before the Lahore High Court and that proceedings on it were scheduled to begin on Monday. He requested that the case proceedings move forward after a decision on that application.
Mian Ali Ashfaq said he would also present arguments on the exemption application and wanted to make further submissions on the contempt petition first. He said he had never seen such a degrading application in Pakistan’s history and claimed that proceedings had been adjourned 14 times because of the complainant.
Azma Bukhari’s counsel asked him to correct his choice of words.
The court also heard Falak Javed’s counsel’s request for issuance of arrest warrants after rejecting Azma Bukhari’s application for exemption from appearance. Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo subsequently reserved his decision on Azma Bukhari’s contempt petition and her application for exemption from appearance.
During the hearing, Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo said everyone sitting in court had to maintain patience and that the court also had to show patience. He said the parties were like children to him and that a lawyer was an officer of the court.
The judge said the case should be decided instead of putting speed breakers in its way, adding that lawyers should present legal arguments and allow the trial to proceed. He said both parties were equal before him and that his remarks should not be interpreted as suggesting that either of the two lawyers was different in his eyes.
During the hearing, Azma Bukhari’s counsel objected to Falak Javed not being produced in court and said it was unfair and that she should have been produced before the court. He said it was claimed that Falak Javed had been in jail for two years, but it was not mentioned that she was on bail in this case.
Azma Bukhari’s counsel further said there was a basic reason behind Falak Javed’s lawyer speaking in support of social media users. According to the counsel, whenever accused Falak Javed appeared in court, a lawyer was present alongside her, while people carrying cameras were also present who were not affiliated with any television channel.
The counsel said this might be why social media was needed and added that it was a personal attack and could not be permitted.
