Punjab Minister for Information and Culture, Azma Bokhari, has decided not to appear in court in person for the recording of her statement due to serious security concerns and pressing official commitments.
An application has been filed before the court by her counsel, Ali Bokhari, stating that the provincial minister is facing security threats that make her physical appearance in court impractical. The application further notes that her important official responsibilities as a cabinet minister also restrict her availability.
The court has been requested to allow Azma Bokhari’s statement to be recorded through a video link, ensuring her full cooperation with the judicial process while also addressing security considerations.
It is pertinent to mention that the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has already registered a case regarding the circulation of a fake video attributed to Azma Bokhari. The case names Falak Javed, Atiq Riaz, and others as accused.
Earlier, the court had summoned Azma Bokhari to appear in person today for the recording of her statement. However, through the latest application, the court has been urged to issue orders permitting the recording of her statement via video link.
Separately, Azma criticised the development claims of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, saying that in the so-called “province of change,” even installation of manhole covers is being projected as a major achievement.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Azma Bokhari shared before-and-after pictures of manhole covers installed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on social media and remarked sarcastically, “Wow! Such massive development is taking place in the province of change, and we didn’t even know about it.”
She said it was astonishing that posters highlighting the installation of manhole covers also featured two different images of Sohail Afridi, as if the project were a historic or landmark achievement. Speaking in a sarcastic tone, she added that people are often criticized for pointing out a lack of development, but now even routine tasks such as installing manhole covers are being officially publicized with before-and-after images.
The provincial minister said that the public is no longer impressed by mere images and publicity campaigns. “People want real development, basic facilities, and visible performance – not the glorification of routine work as major accomplishments,” she emphasized.
Azma Bokhari further stated that while large-scale public welfare projects are visibly taking shape across Punjab, in other provinces even minor works are being excessively publicized, which, she said, exposes the reality behind hollow development claims.