Prime Minister Imran Khan has changed his lawyer in the Shahbaz Sharif defamation suit, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Senator Ali Zafar will now represent the premier before a session court in Lahore instead of Babar Awan.

Babar Awan had represented Imran Khan in all the previous hearings.

Earlier, the Lahore High Court dismissed a petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif for the daily hearing of his defamation case against Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday.

LHC Registrar office directed the petitioner to approach the concerned forum of the directorate general of the district judiciary.

Shehbaz approached LHC over a 'constant delay' in the proceedings on his defamation suit against the premier.

According to the petitioner Shahbaz Sharif, the premier's alleged false, malicious and baseless statements had tarnished his image and he seeks recovery of Rs10 billion in damages.

Reporter Shaheen Atiq