Court reserves
verdict on
defamation suit
against Imran
Additional Sessions Judge Yilmaz Ghani hears arguments from both parties before reserving the verdict
Court Reporter
ISLAMABAD: A sessions court in Lahore has reserved its verdict on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s petition to make the legal notice a part of the record in his defamation suit against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.
Additional Sessions Judge Yilmaz Ghani heard the arguments from both parties today before reserving the verdict. The court will announce its judgement on PM Shehbaz’s plea on July 10.
PM Shehbaz had filed a defamation suit against the PTI founder over his allegations on a TV channel, over which the former has claimed that it damaged his reputation and demanded Rs10 billion in damages.
In the defamation suit, the prime minister stated that the PTI founder had alleged in a TV programme on April 26, 2017, that he was offered Rs10 billion bribe by PM Shehbaz for keeping silent over the Panama Papers case.
The premier stated that the allegations levelled against him were not only false but also defamatory. He added that the PTI founder failed to tender a publicly broadcast apology, despite being served a legal notice in May 2017 over his allegations.
The court was requested to issue a decree for the recovery of Rs10 billion as compensation for the defamatory remarks in favour of the plaintiff.
During a hearing on May 17, PM Shehbaz appeared via video link and was cross-examined by the PTI founder’s counsel.
Responding to questions during cross-examination, the prime minister reiterated that the PTI founder had accused him of offering Rs10 billion bribe. The PM argued that the allegation amounted to serious defamation and claimed that its impact was more damaging than “millions of pamphlets” against him.
PM Shehbaz stated that he was unaware whether the PTI founder later denied the claim in a television interview. He acknowledged that his name was not explicitly mentioned in that particular conversation, but maintained that the overall context of the PTI founder’s remarks pointed directly toward him.
He also told the court that, while he had no knowledge of any written or printed material — such as posters or pamphlets — circulated personally by the PTI founder, the televised allegations constituted a serious attack on his reputation.
2nd lead
Asad Qaisar says
PTI to file reference
against four MNAs
who joined PML-N
Party seeks disqualification of MNAs who defied 26th Amendment policy
Faisal Sheikh
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to send a reference against four MNAs who, despite winning seats with PTI’s backing, have now joined the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
According to PTI leader Asad Qaiser, the party has finalised its plan to take action against these members for deviating from party policy during the vote on the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
The reference will be sent to the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The four MNAs named are Chaudhry Usman Ali, Mubarak Zeb, Aurangzeb Khichi, and Zahoor Qureshi. PTI accuses them of violating the party line during the amendment vote and later aligning with the PML-N.
“These members won their seats on PTI tickets and have now joined the PML-N. We have asked the party to send a disqualification reference to the Speaker and the ECP. Let’s see what action they take,” said Qaiser.
In October last year, the government clinched 225 votes, surpassing the required 224, with support from a handful of independent MNAs, including members of the PTI, in the historic midnight passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment in the National Assembly.
Back then, Qaiser had said that the PTI-backed independent candidates, who supported the contentious constitutional amendment, betrayed the party and its founder, Imran Khan.
“Those who voted [in favour of the bill] have committed treachery against the party and its founder,” Qaiser said.
