Lahore: A local court has summoned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to appear via video link on September 12 in connection with his Rs10 billion defamation suit against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. The long-running case, filed in 2017, is once again moving forward after years of delays.
Additional Sessions Judge Yilmaz Ghaie heard the case on Sunday. However, due to the absence of Imran Khan’s lawyer, no substantial proceedings took place. The judge directed that both parties’ counsels must ensure their presence at the next hearing, scheduled for 10:00 a.m.
The case stems from allegations made by Imran Khan in April 2017, when he claimed that Shehbaz Sharif, then Punjab’s Chief Minister, had offered him Rs10 billion to remain silent and withdraw his stance on the Panama Papers issue. In response, Shehbaz Sharif filed a defamation suit in July 2017, seeking damages worth Rs10 billion.
In June 2020, Shehbaz Sharif, through his counsel, Mustafa Ramday, also submitted a petition urging the court to expedite proceedings, arguing that the case had already been pending for three years and should be heard daily.
The court has now directed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to appear for cross-examination through video link on September 12, with both parties expected to present their arguments in detail.
