SC stays trial against Imran Khan, issues notice to PM in defamation review

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday issued a notice to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on a review petition filed by the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, in a long-running defamation case.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, a three-member bench headed by Justice Ayesha A Malik also stayed the proceedings of the trial court in the Rs10 billion defamation case.

The bench observed that the matter would be fixed for an early hearing, noting that no one appeared on behalf of the respondent during the proceedings.

The case stems from an Rs10 billion defamation suit filed in 2017 by Shehbaz Sharif after Imran Khan alleged that he had offered a Rs10bn bribe to withdraw legal action related to the Panama Papers revelations.

The trial court had earlier struck off Imran Khan’s right of defence, although his counsel maintained that the case had already reached the stage of recording evidence.

In his latest plea, Imran Khan has requested the apex court to suspend ongoing proceedings in the lower courts until his appeal is decided.

The original Panama Papers case, spearheaded politically by Imran Khan, resulted in the disqualification of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 2017.

The Supreme Court’s unanimous verdict at the time focused on Nawaz Sharif’s failure to disclose employment in a Dubai-based company.

Reporter: Amanat Gishkori