LAHORE – A sessions court in Lahore has accepted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s request to officially include his legal notice in the Rs10 billion defamation case against PTI founder Imran Khan. The case revolves around bribery allegations related to the Panama Papers scandal.
In his legal notice, the prime minister claimed the accusations were baseless and harmful to his reputation. His legal team argued that adding the notice to court records was necessary to support his defamation claim.
Additional Sessions Judge Yilmaz Ghani issued a five-page written order and directed PM Shehbaz Sharif to appear via video link for cross-examination on July 18 at 10 AM. The court emphasized that both sides must be given a fair chance to present evidence.
However, Imran Khan’s legal team opposed the request, arguing that the notice did not meet the legal standards under Section 8 of the defamation law and should not be admitted in court.
Despite these objections, the court sided with the prime minister’s legal team, stressing that justice requires transparency and equal opportunity for both parties. The decision marks a key development in the high-profile case.
The court had earlier adjourned the hearing until June 2, but the latest order now sets the stage for PM Shehbaz’s remote appearance, which could further shape the course of the defamation proceedings.