In a significant development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Rs10 billion defamation case against founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan from 2017 has been set for hearing in court.
In 2017, Imran Khan accused PM Shehbaz Sharif of offering him Rs10 billion through a mutual acquaintance to withdraw his case in the Supreme Court regarding Panama Papers.
Shehbaz Sharif filed a defamation case against Imran Khan after made up this narrative during his speeches in 2017.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appeared in the Lahore Sessions Court via video link. The Prime Minister took oath in the courtroom before the cross-examination.
Additional Sessions Judge Yilmaz Ghani is hearing Shehbaz Sharif’s case which was filed in courts in July 2017.
It merits a mention that Imran Khan took several dates in this case, changed lawyers several times and tried to delay the case throughout this time.
During the hearing, the PM appealed to the judge, “The court should not postpone the case and hear the case as soon as possible today so that it reaches its logical conclusion soon.”
“Imran Khan accused me of False and baseless allegations made,” reiterated PM Shehbaz Sharif.
He further added, “The court is requested to issue a degree of Rs 10 billion in damages from the defendant for publishing defamatory material.”
Mian Muhammad Hussain, the legal counsel for the PTI founder, conducted the cross-examination.
During cross examination, PM Shehbaz was asked whether the PTI founder had personally levelled the allegations against him, he replied that Khan made his allegation during television appearances.
It should be noted that the PTI also tried to stop the case from the Lahore High Court, but the court rejected the request to stop the hearing of the case.
The court adjourned the hearing of the case until April 25, 2025.
Read more: Why is Nawaz Sharif in London?
