Rs10bn defamation case: Court asks PM Shehbaz to produce more witnesses

LAHORE: A sessions court on Saturday asked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to produce further witnesses for recording their statements on January 24 next after completion of cross examination of a witness Adnan Raza in his Rs10 billion defamation suit against Imran Khan.

The witness stated that Imran Khan levelled false allegations against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and made these allegations repeatedly.

The witness further testified that he read in a newspaper that PM Shehbaz had sent a legal notice to the defendant over the allegations.

He said the false allegations damaged PM Shehbaz’s reputation and created unrest among the public against the plaintiff. He said the impact of the false allegations was reflected in the defeat of PML-N from his constituency.

Responding to the queries of defendant’s counsel, the witness clarified that he had watched the relevant statements of the defendant on television programs.

The witness said it was incorrect to suggest that PM Shehbaz came into power through rigging with the help of the election commission by preparing Form-47.

The witness also stated that PML-N President Nawaz Sharif was not disqualified due to the Panama Papers but for not drawing a salary from his son’s company.

To another question, the witness said it was incorrect that PML-N faced defeat in his constituency due to corruption instead of the false allegations levelled by the PTI former chairman.

PM Shehbaz in his suit filed in 2017 said Imran Khan levelled baseless allegations on him.

He sought a decree for the recovery of rupees ten billion as compensation and damages from the defendant.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025