PM’s defamation case against Imran adjourned until June 2

LAHORE: Additional Sessions Judge Yilmaz Ghani has adjourned the hearing of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Rs10 billion defamation case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan until June 2.

During cross-examination via videoconferencing, Sharif congratulated the judge and everyone present in the courtroom on Pakistan’s recent victory against India. The judge replied: “Congratulations to you as well.”

Khan’s lawyer said that this is a very happy occasion, and a victory for the entire nation. Talking about the case, he said that a very serious allegation of corruption had been levelled, an allegation of Rs10 billion was made. “This is a straightforward case.”

Addressing Sharif, he said: “You mentioned the Panama case in your claim. What do you know about that case?” Shehbaz replied: “The Panama Papers were mentioned in newspapers. I don’t know the details.”

The lawyer claimed that Sharif was hiding facts regarding the Panama case. Shehbaz said: “That is not correct. You are all busy, so please avoid unnecessary questions. I have to go on a visit to Turkey, Azerbaijan and Iran.”

Responding to the lawyer’s questions, Sharif said: “The Panama case was not against me. I don’t know about the verdict. I was not a party in the Panama case, but it is all part of the record.”

When the lawyer asked if Khan was the plaintiff and Nawaz Sharif the defendant in the Panama case in the Supreme Court, the PM said: “It might have been, but I was not a party.”

He said he did not remember giving any legal notice until April 28, 2017, admitting that it is absolutely correct that he did not file any defamation claim until April 28, 2017.

The lawyer asked if Khan had levelled the allegation against Sharif in writing. Sharif responded that the allegation he levelled was repeated many times on TV in front of the whole world, as the respected lawyer must have heard it too.

When the lawyer asked if Sharif had also levelled such allegations as part of politics, Sharif replied: “No, I have never levelled an allegation without proof.”