Rs10b defamation suit: Imran again absent from court

LAHORE: An additional district and sessions judge on Wednesday issued notices to PTI Chairman Imran Khan after receiving an application from Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, seeking an early verdict on his Rs 10 billion defamation suit against him. The court passed the orders as Imran again skipped the proceedings. Further hearing of the matter was later adjourned till December 5. The counsel for the chief minister implored the court to decide the matter at earliest and said the PTI chief was using delaying tactics, thus hindering the justice process. He said by law, a defamation suit should be decided within 90 days but the counsel for Imran, instead of presenting arguments on previous hearings, always sought adjournments.
Previously in April, he said, Imran through media stated that a common friend offered him Rs 10 billion on behalf of Shahbaz to remain silent on the Panama Papers case.
The counsel prayed the court to issue decree for recovering Rs 10 billion as compensation for publication of defamatory content in his client’s favour.
Earlier, Shahbaz, through a legal notice, had urged Imran to name the person within 14 days who reached him on his behalf with the offer; otherwise, court would be moved against him. Later, the chief minister filed the Rs 10 billion defamation suit against PTI chairman.