ISLAMABAD: Syed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari has issued a Rs1 billion defamation notice to PML-N leader Khawaja Asif over the latter’s remarks over his remarks about the former assisting pilgrims to evade quarantine and isolation after returning from Iran.
Khwaja Asif – a PML-N leader – said in a statement on March 17 that Bukhari was responsible for not keeping the “storm of Iran pilgrims” in quarantine on their return to Pakistan.
Also in a tweet, Asif blamed Prime Minister Imran Khan, Special Assistant to Health Dr Zafar Mirza, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and Bukhari for the deaths of coronavirus patients.
SAPM Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari sent the PML-N leader a defamation notice, saying that he will not spare Asif. His notice was sent under Section 8 (notice of action) of The Defamation Ordinance 2002.
The special assistant has demanded that Asif should issue a public apology and withdraw his allegations within 14 days or pay Rs1 billion for hurting Bukhari’s reputation.
“I wouldn’t respond to his words on media but in the court,” Zulfi wrote in the notice.
Bukhari added that Asif’s comments were against the country’s national interest and that they hurt the sentiments of the overseas Pakistanis.
