The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday restored the right of defence of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan in the Rs10 billion defamation case filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, overturning earlier judicial rulings that had barred him from contesting the claim.
According to media reports, Justice Ayesha Malik announced the short order in a two-to-one majority decision. The verdict was delivered by a three-member bench headed by Justice Ayesha Malik, which had earlier reserved its judgement after hearing the review petition.
The case dates back to 2017, when Shehbaz Sharif filed a Rs10 billion defamation suit against Imran Khan after the PTI founder alleged that Shehbaz Sharif had offered him Rs10 billion to remain silent over the Panama Papers case. Shehbaz Sharif denied the allegation and approached the court, describing the claim as false and defamatory.
Proceedings in the case have continued before a sessions court in Lahore. Earlier, the trial court had struck down Imran Khan’s right of defence over delays in submitting a written response. The Lahore High Court (LHC) later upheld that decision, observing that the PTI founder had caused unnecessary delays in the proceedings. In May 2025, Shehbaz Sharif recorded his statement before the trial court through a video link, while cross-examination of witnesses, including Attaullah Tarar and Malik Ahmad Khan, had already been completed by lawyers representing Imran Khan.
Previously, a three-member Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan and Justice Ayesha Malik had dismissed Imran Khan’s plea seeking restoration of his defence rights. The majority ruling had held that the PTI founder had deliberately delayed the judicial process.
However, Justice Ayesha Malik had disagreed with the majority opinion and maintained in her dissenting note that no litigant should be deprived of the right to defend themselves. She argued that Imran Khan should have been given an opportunity to present his defence. The review petition was later heard by another three-member bench led by Justice Ayesha Malik and including Justice Hashim Kakar and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim. The bench subsequently accepted the review petition and restored the PTI founder’s right of defence in the defamation case. The decision is expected to allow Imran Khan’s legal team to actively participate in the ongoing proceedings before the trial court.
IHC issues notice to PTI’s Gohar over closure of Imran’s X account
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday issued a fresh notice to Barrister Gohar Ali Khan in his capacity as Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and ordered him to submit a written response in a petition seeking the closure of the PTI founder’s X (formerly Twitter) account.
Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir heard the petition filed by Advocate Ghulam Murtaza. The court noted that no written response had been submitted by PTI. Advocate Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry and Murtaza Toori appeared on behalf of the PTI founder.
The court inquired who had come from the jail. Justice Tahir also remarked that a judgment has been issued in the Bushra Bibi case and asked everyone to read it. He also directed the Law Officer of the Advocate General’s Office to convey to the Advocate General that they should read the judgment, adding that the judgment also explains what needs to be done if meetings are misused. The court directed the Sub-Inspector appearing on behalf of the NCCIA that a law officer should represent the agency in future hearings. Justice Tahir also told the PTI counsel that questions will be framed for the next hearing, which they will have to answer, adding that the counsel must explain what action PTI can take as a regulator. The court adjourned further hearing of the case until September 10.
Scrutiny of charge-sheet completed in PTI foreign funding case
The scrutiny of the charge sheet in the foreign funding case against the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and other accused has been completed. Judge Abdul Ghafoor Kakar of the Banking Court in Islamabad heard the case. Special Prosecutor Wasiq Malik appeared before the court. During the proceedings, the court was informed that the scrutiny of the charge sheet in the foreign funding case has been completed.
The court subsequently adjourned further hearing of the case until July 9. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered a foreign funding case against the PTI founder and other accused.