Punjab MPA Hina Parvez Butt has responded to Information Minister Azma Bokhari’s criticism of her deleted social media post. The post concerned the death of a suspect in an alleged Crime Control Department (CCD) encounter.
Hina Parvez Butt said her remarks represented her personal opinion as an ordinary citizen. She argued that her comments did not target Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Punjab government or any state institution.
In a video statement shared on X on Thursday, Butt expressed disagreement with Bokhari’s assessment of her conduct. She also criticised attempts to turn her personal views into a political controversy.
The dispute began after a suspect accused of killing a teenage boy in Multan died during an alleged CCD encounter in Bahawalpur. Butt reacted to the incident on Wednesday by sharing screenshots of a television report.
Her post stated, “This is Maryam Nawaz sahiba’s government; justice is served immediately.” The statement attracted criticism because some readers interpreted it as celebrating an alleged extrajudicial killing.
Butt later deleted the post following the public reaction. However, she defended her original remarks in her subsequent video statement.
She repeated the wording of her post and described the criticism surrounding her personal opinion as unnecessary. Hina Parvez Butt maintained that she had neither blamed Maryam Nawaz nor criticised the provincial government or any institution.
The MPA also addressed comments made by Azma Bokhari during an appearance on a private news channel on Wednesday night. During the programme, Bokhari said Butt often made statements without considering their consequences.
The information minister added that such remarks created difficulties for Butt herself. She also described the MPA as a source of embarrassment for the government.
Butt rejected that characterisation and said her statements had never harmed or embarrassed the chief minister or the provincial administration. She added that any embarrassment felt by Bokhari was a personal matter.
“If Azma Bokhari sahiba is feeling embarrassed, that is her personal choice,” Butt said.
The MPA acknowledged Bokhari’s responsibility as the government’s official spokesperson. She said the minister had every right to explain the government’s position. However, Butt considered the personal criticism directed at her unnecessary.
Defending her reaction to the teenager’s death, Butt referred to other violent incidents involving children and young people. She suggested inviting affected parents onto television programmes to discuss their experiences and concerns.
Butt questioned whether people defending suspects fully understood the suffering of families who had lost their children. She maintained that her comments reflected public anger over such incidents.
The case involves Waseem, a teenager who reportedly worked for the suspect. The suspect was accused of running over the boy inside a private housing society in Multan. The teenager’s death sparked public outrage, with a police officer describing the alleged treatment as “barbarity”.
The Crime Control Department, established last year, has also faced criticism from human rights advocates and civil society groups. Their concerns include the number of people who have reportedly died in custody.
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The exchange between Butt and Bokhari has brought renewed attention to the debate surrounding the alleged encounter. It has also highlighted disagreements over public reactions to police operations and the use of social media by government representatives.
