Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday testified via video link before a Lahore court in a Rs10 billion defamation lawsuit filed against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.
The case was heard by Additional Sessions Judge Yilmaz Ghani, with PTI founder’s legal counsel Mian Muhammad Hussain conducting the cross-examination. PM Shehbaz, under oath, confirmed that his lawyer was present alongside him during the proceedings.
The defamation suit was initiated by Shehbaz Sharif in response to claims made by Imran Khan, alleging that Shehbaz had offered Rs10 billion as an incentive to withdraw the Panama Papers case.
During the hearing, Shehbaz confirmed that he had personally signed the legal claim, but could not recall whether he had reviewed the defamation law before doing so. He added that the verification stamp paper was acquired through his lawyer’s agent, though he did not remember the name of the oath commissioner who attested the document. According to Shehbaz, the commissioner visited his Model Town residence for attestation, but he could not specify the date or time of the visit.
The prime minister acknowledged that the allegations against him were made during televised appearances by Imran Khan, not directly to him in person. However, he admitted that he had not verified the broadcast origin of the programs before filing the lawsuit.
When asked whether the PTI founder had personally published any defamatory statements, Shehbaz reiterated that the accusations were made during media appearances. He also stated that he was unaware of any affiliations between the PTI founder and the media professionals involved in those broadcasts.
Shehbaz clarified that the claim was filed before a district judge, not specifically in a district court. He further noted that no media organizations or individuals linked to them had been included as parties in the case.
During the session, the prime minister’s lawyer, Mustafa Ramday, objected to a question regarding the jurisdiction of the additional sessions judge, asserting that the legal issue had already been resolved. When asked by the court if he wished to respond, Shehbaz disagreed with the suggestion that the judge lacked the authority to hear the case or record evidence.
Shehbaz also said he could not remember whether he was serving as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president in 2017 when the allegations were made, but confirmed his ongoing affiliation with the party. He acknowledged that Imran Khan was leading the PTI at that time and that both parties had been political adversaries since PTI’s inception.
In his written claim, Shehbaz confirmed that he had described Imran Khan as a “political rival of PML-N” in paragraph three. He also stated he was unaware of the removal of the term ‘originator’ from the defamation law, though he noted that all laws and regulations are reviewed by the cabinet before being sent for presidential approval.
The hearing was adjourned until April 25, when further cross-examination of the prime minister is scheduled.
