LAHORE: A sessions court has dismissed a petition of Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari, challenging a lower court’s decision directing her to appear in person to record her statement in a cybercrime case.
The magistrate had earlier turned down her request to record her statement as complainant through video link.
PTI social media activists Falak Javed and Muhammad Shafiq remain in police custody in connection with the case of uploading the minister’s fake video on social media.
The court held that testifying via video link is not an absolute right but an exception to the standard requirement of physical appearance, to be granted only in exceptional circumstances.
The court noted that the petitioner/complainant Ms Bokhari, despite holding public office, had not provided any specific evidence to substantiate claims of a threat to her safety.
The court, therefore, dismissed the petition and directed the petitioner/minister to appear before the trial court on the next scheduled date.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026