Shehbaz’s defamation suit against Imran adjourned
A sessions court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of a Rs10bn defamation suit filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif against incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan due to absence of the plaintiff.
Additional District & Sessions Judge (AD&SJ) Farhan Nabi conducted the hearing of the suit.
Advocate Mian Muhammad Hussain Chotia appeared on behalf of the defendant, Imran Khan, however, the plaintiff, PM Shehbaz was not available for cross-examination.
The plaintiff’s lawyer informed the court that the prime minister was occupied due to engagements with a foreign delegation and was unable to attend the hearing.
The defendant’s lawyer told the court that he was fully prepared for cross-examining the prime minister, adding, “It seems that PM Shehbaz Sharif did not appear due to fear of cross-examination.”
However, the plaintiff’s lawyer said the prime minister was busy with a foreign delegation.
The judge adjourned further hearing on the request of the plaintiff’s counsel till March 22.
The suit pending since 2017 says Mr Khan wrongly accused PM Shehbaz of offering Rs10bn to him through a common friend in exchange for withdrawing the Panama Papers case from the Supreme Court.
Shehbaz said Mr Khan leveled baseless allegations against him, seeking a decree for recovery of Rs10bn as compensation from the defendant for publication of defamatory content. The PTI leader had filed his reply to the suit with a delay of four years in 2021, saying one of his friends told him that someone known to him and also the Sharif family approached him with an offer to pay billions of rupees if he could convince Mr Khan to stop pursuing the Panama case.
Mr Khan said he had disclosed the incident for the consumption of the public at large, and an act in the interest of the public good does not constitute any defamation.
He said maintained that he did not specifically attribute any statement to the plaintiff (PM Shehbaz) while narrating the incident.
DAWN NEWS
PM Shehbaz’ cross-examination continues in defamation suit
A sessions court on Saturday adjourned a Rs10 billion defamation suit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif against incarcerated PTI founding chairman Imran Khan as the counsel for the defendant continued the cross-examination of the plaintiff.
Additional District & Sessions Judge (AD&SJ) Yalmaz Ghani conducted the hearing on the suit, while PM Shehbaz and his counsel Mustafa Ramday joined via a video link.
At the outset of the hearing, the prime minister congratulated all attendees on winning the battle against India.
In response, the judge also said, “Congratulations to you as well.”
Advocate Muhammad Hussain Chotia, the counsel for the PTI founder, said this was indeed a matter of joy and it was a victory for the whole nation.
During cross-examination, the defendant’s counsel asked the plaintiff whether the alleged defamatory statement had been made in writing.
The prime minister said the allegations had been repeatedly made on television.
The lawyer then asked PM Shehbaz whether he himself ever made such accusations in politics.
However, the prime minister claimed that he had never made any allegation without evidence.
The lawyer asked the plaintiff what could be the motive behind the PTI founder’s speeches and statements.
At this, PM Shehbaz said this question should be asked from the defendant.
The judge also objected to the question posed by the defendant’s lawyer, terming it irrelevant.
Asked about the outcome of the
Panama Papers case, PM Shehbaz said it was not against him and he was not aware of the ruling.
Responding to a follow-up question, the prime minister reiterated that he was not a party to the Panama Papers case and that this fact was part of the record.
The PM stated that he had been subjected to a serious and dishonest accusation by the defendant.
The cross-examination was in progress when the judge adjourned further hearing till June 2.
In his defamation suit filed in 2017, PM Shehbaz said Imran Khan levelled baseless allegations on him.
He sought a decree for recovery of Rs10bn as compensation from the defendant for publication of defamatory content.
Imran Khan had filed his reply to the suit with a delay of four years in 2021, saying one of his friends told him that someone known to him and also the Sharif family had approached him with an offer to pay billions of rupees if he could convince him (Mr Khan) to stop pursuing the Panama Papers case.
The former prime minister said he disclosed the incident for the consumption of the public at large, and an act in the interest of the public good does not constitute any defamation.
The reply maintained that Mr Khan did not specifically attribute any statement to the plaintiff (PM Shehbaz) while narrating the incident.
DAWN NEWS