LAHORE; The hearing of the defamation case filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan was adjourned on Monday without any proceedings.
Additional Sessions Judge Yalmaz Ghani deferred the matter until September 6, citing the court’s summer vacations and a strike observed by lawyers on the call of the Bar Council. As per media reports, the prime minister had been summoned earlier for cross-examination through video link, but the proceedings could not take place.
The case dates back to 2017, when Shehbaz Sharif, then Punjab Chief Minister, filed a Rs 10 billion defamation suit against Imran Khan. The suit followed allegations made by the PTI leader in the aftermath of the Panama Papers scandal, in which Khan accused Shehbaz of corruption and money laundering.
Shehbaz Sharif has maintained that the charges were “baseless and politically motivated” and that they caused serious harm to his reputation and credibility. The suit seeks damages for what he describes as deliberate attempts to malign him during a politically sensitive period.
Legal observers note that defamation cases involving political leaders are not uncommon in Pakistan but often face lengthy delays due to procedural hurdles and political developments. The Shehbaz-Imran case is seen as significant because it is directly tied to the Panama Papers controversy, which had reshaped Pakistan’s political landscape and led to the disqualification of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The case has witnessed multiple adjournments over the years, and both leaders’ political positions have further complicated proceedings. The next hearing is scheduled for September 6, with attention now focused on whether substantive arguments will finally move forward.
