On Friday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan issued a stay order preventing the trial court from moving forward with the defamation lawsuit lodged by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. This legal action stems from accusations made by Imran Khan, who alleged that Shehbaz Sharif had offered him a bribe of Rs10 billion to withdraw the Panama Papers case, a claim that the Prime Minister vehemently denies.
The defamation suit was initiated in response to statements made by Imran Khan during a televised program aired on April 26, 2017. In that broadcast, Khan accused Shehbaz Sharif of attempting to influence the judicial process through a substantial monetary offer. Shehbaz Sharif has consistently maintained that these allegations are baseless and damaging to his personal and political reputation. Following the broadcast, a legal notice was served to Imran Khan in May 2017, demanding a public apology, which was never issued.
Seeking redress for what he described as serious defamation, the Prime Minister filed the suit demanding Rs10 billion in damages. The case gained further attention when a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Ayesha Malik, intervened to stay the trial court proceedings after Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated, filed a plea to halt the ongoing case. The apex court also issued a notice to PM Shehbaz Sharif, requesting his official response and indicating that the matter would be scheduled for an expedited hearing.
During the Supreme Court hearing, Justice Malik pointed out that no representatives appeared on behalf of the opposing party, highlighting the absence of legal counsel or any form of defense from Imran Khan’s side at that moment. This development followed a controversial decision by the trial court, which had previously struck off Imran Khan’s right to defend himself in the case, raising questions about the fairness of the ongoing proceedings.
Looking back, on May 17 of the previous year, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif participated in the trial via video link, where he was subjected to cross-examination by Imran Khan’s legal team. During this session, Shehbaz reiterated that the allegation of a Rs10 billion bribe was not only false but also a grave attack on his character, causing reputational harm far exceeding that of any physical pamphlets or written propaganda. He emphasized that although Imran Khan did not explicitly name him in a subsequent television interview, the context of the remarks unmistakably pointed to him.
Furthermore, Shehbaz Sharif clarified that he was unaware of any written or printed defamatory material personally distributed by Imran Khan. However, he insisted that the televised accusations alone were sufficient to constitute a serious defamation, severely impacting his public image. This case highlights the ongoing political tensions and legal battles between the current government and the opposition, reflecting the broader struggle for influence and credibility within Pakistan’s political landscape.
