LAHORE: Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari has strongly criticized the opposition leader for labelling the entire media as “Paid Media”, calling it a reflection of his distorted mindset. She emphasized that journalists who support the opposition should not be selectively recognised while dismissing the contributions of others, which is completely unacceptable. Expressing solidarity with journalists, Azma Bokhari staged a walkout from the Punjab Assembly and announced that legal proceedings under the Defamation Act will be initiated against the opposition leader for his baseless allegations. Speaking to journalists, Azma Bokhari said that the recent incidents in the Assembly were broadcast worldwide, highlighting that while the opposition is used to speaking, it has no tolerance for being questioned. She stated that the opposition had submitted a guest list for the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s visit, and proper entry arrangements were made, yet unrelated individuals and YouTumers with no link to the Assembly were brought in. These individuals disrespected the sanctity of the House, engaged in rowdy behavior, and physically harassed journalists, she added. Azma Bokhari further said that journalists were shoved, assaulted, verbally abused, and prevented from performing their duties inside the Assembly. Instead of apologizing for the violence, the opposition labelled the media as “Paid,” exposing their moral bankruptcy. She added, “Those with a distorted mindset call independent media ‘Paid.’” The Minister reiterated that mistreatment of journalists and the press gallery in the Punjab Assembly is unacceptable, and she walked out in protest to stand in solidarity with the press. She stated, “I was, am, and will remain standing with journalists. Asking ‘Lahore Kesa Laga?’ is a legitimate journalistic question, and if that is considered provocation, it is not the fault of journalists. Questioning is a right, not applause-seeking.” Azma Bokhari also condemned the opposition for attempting to exploit ethnicity, saying that using the Pashtun identity as a shield to play the ethnic card was inappropriate. “The issue was about behaviour, not nationality. The Pashtun community in Pakistan is respected, but associating misbehaviour with a whole ethnic group for political gains is unacceptable.” Regarding the false allegations made against her, Azma Bokhari announced, “The opposition leader claimed that I sent ‘paid journalists.’ They must now prove this in court. I am initiating legal action under the Defamation Act, and notices are being issued. It is time to hold lies and propaganda accountable.” She further stated that the YouTumers brought into the Assembly by the opposition were part of a social media propaganda cell; they are neither recognized by any institution nor connected to journalistic ethics. They merely wish to call themselves journalists. Azma Bokhari questioned the opposition’s commitment to democratic politics, saying, “Anyone who considers questions about terrorism, governance, and public issues a crime cannot claim to be a democratic politician. If questions trouble you so much, learn to answer them. Attacking media, using abusive language, and targeting journalists is not politics; it is pettiness.” She declared in no uncertain terms that attacks on independent media will not be tolerated, and the Punjab Assembly will not be allowed to become a hub for assaulting journalists. Moreover, Azma Bokhari stated that historic progress is ongoing in the health and security sectors of Punjab, with tangible evidence provided by mega projects such as the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology in Sargodha and the Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital in Lahore. She stated that the Sargodha Cardiology Institute is built on 85 kanals with 189 beds and has reached 99 percent completion. The OPD is fully operational, while all modern facilities including a cath lab, angiography, CCU, ICU, and cardiac surgical ICU are being provided. The total project cost is PKR 8.568 billion, of which PKR 8.145 billion has already been spent, and the hospital will be inaugurated in January, she said. She said that in Lahore, a 1000-bed Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research is being constructed on 333 kanals, with a cost of PKR 74.920 billion. The project will be completed by May 2027, while emergency services will be operational from January 2026 and OPD and Cancer Care Clinic will start on January 17, 2026. She emphasized that this hospital will not deny treatment to any patient at any stage. According to recent progress, the project is 48.35% complete. Regarding security measures, she stated that the Smart Safe City project is active in 26 districts of Punjab. Virtual police stations and panic buttons have been installed for women’s protection, while thousands of locations provide instant assistance through the Women Safety App and sign language support. theft dropped 55 percent vs. 2023 and 28 percent vs. 2024; car theft fell 56 percent vs. 2023 and 42 percent vs. 2024; other vehicle theft decreased 56 percent vs. 2023 and 31 percent vs. 2024. Azma Bokhari said that a significant decline in crime has been recorded in Punjab, with total crimes in 2025 reduced by 57 percent compared to 2023 and by 36 percent compared to 2024. A marked decrease was also observed in serious crimes such as dacoity, robbery, snatching, vehicle theft, and burglary, reflecting effective strategy and improved law enforcement. She said that the Punjab Health Department has taken multiple historic measures to improve healthcare facilities and ease public access to treatment. This includes deployment of 911 mobile units which have served over 16.3 million patients, treatment of over 2.2 million patients in field hospitals, and 2,503 Maryam Nawaz Health Clinics providing quality services to over 15 million citizens. After outsourcing 59 rural health centres, more than 16,000 surgeries were conducted in Maryam Nawaz hospitals. Under the primary health system, 1,087 basic health centers and 173 rural health centres have been fully upgraded. By December 31, 2025, upgrades of 434 Maryam Nawaz Health Clinics and 821 Maryam Nawaz hospitals will be completed, achieving the target for restoration of all primary health centers in the province by December 2026, she added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025