Defamation suit: Imran's counsel given last chance to appear

LAHORE: A sessions court on Friday gave last chance to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan's counsel to appear and advance arguments in a Rs 10 billion defamation suit filed by Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

At the outset of proceedings, the court was informed that Imran' Counsel Babar Awan could not appear due to his engagements in Islamabad. The court was requested to give an opportunity.

However, Shehbaz Sharif's counsel submitted that Imran's counsel was using tactics to delay case proceedings as he failed to appear time and again.

But, District and Sessions Judge Abdul Ghaffar gave last opportunity to Babar Awan to appear and submit his arguments while adjourning further hearing till February 17.

Shehbaz Sharif had filed the Rs 10 billion damage suit in district and sessions court under sections 4 and 9 of the Defamation Ordinance 2002 against the PTI chief.

He submitted that PTI chief Imran Khan alleged in a TV programme on April 26 that Rs 10 billion bribe offers was made to him by Shehbaz Sharif for silence over the Panama papers case. He said that allegations levelled against him were not only false but also defamatory.

He further said that Imran Khan also failed to tender a publicly broadcast apology despite the fact that he was served a legal notice in May last for the purpose. He said that Imran Khan should pay Rs 10 billion in damages for attempting to discredit him.