Defamation suit: Imran Khan seeks time to submit reply

Case is filed by Ishaq Dar’s son Ali Mustafa Dar

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan has sought more time to submit his reply in a defamation suit filed against him by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s son Ali Mustafa Dar.

Ali had sued the PTI chief for making “false statements” against the Dar family with regards to Panama leaks, and had sought Rs5 billion in damages as well as a public apology.

Ali filed the petition to the Islamabad Additional District and Sessions judge (East) Khurram Khan through his counsel Munawar Duggal on May 26th.

In the petition, Ali has maintained that the PTI chief “made false and libellous statements against the plaintiff, his brother [Mujtaba Hasnain Dar] and his family”.

Khan alleged in the press conference that the two brothers owned two towers [40-storied buildings] in the UAE, which were acquired through illegal means, the petition said.

The petition added that those statements were “utterly false and fabricated”.

“The plaintiff is engaged in a lawful business in the UAE and Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar has no shares or ownership in the HDS Group [Ali’s real estate development firm in the UAE],” read the petition.

Former senator Babar Awan is defending the PTI chief.

At the last hearing on June 27th, the court had directed Imran Khan to submit his reply in the case by July 12th.

However, on Tuesday Khan’s counsel sought more time from the court.

The court granted the request and adjourned the case till July 23rd.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 13^th, 2016.