Hamza Shehbaz serves defamation notice to Imran Khan

It’s the same amount PTI chief claimed he was offered by a ‘common friend’

LAHORE: Hamza Shehbaz served a legal notice to PTI chief Imran Khan on Friday, seeking Rs10 billion in damages, the same amount Khan claimed were offered by a ‘common friend’ in return for his ‘silence’ over the Panama Leaks case.

A similar legal notice was served upon Imran Khan by Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif on May 8, which was filed by his counsel and former advocate-general Khawaja Haris.

Hamza sent his legal notice via his counsel Advocate Azam Nazeer Tarar.

Imran Khan has also been asked to tender an apology in 14 days.



The legal notice, however, made no mention of the ‘common friend’ who allegedly offered the bribe to Imran Khan.

Highlighting the political standing of his family, Hamza Shehbaz maintained that Imran Khan’s ‘baseless allegation’ was part of an effort to tarnish his family’s public image.

Meanwhile, Shehbaz Sharif’s legal notice severely criticised Imran Khan for not disclosing the name of the ‘common friend’ and that he (Khan) had ulterior motives behind making such false accusations.

The notice served by Hamza Shehbaz stated that Imran Khan’s statements demonstrated the intent to malign him.



Both notices were sent under Section 8 of the Defamation Ordinance of 2002.

According to the notice, Imran Khan should tender a “comprehensive and proper apology and must publish a retraction” in two national-level English and Urdu newspapers.

It also urged Imran Khan to publish the apology and retraction with the same prominence as the publication of defamatory material.

If these conditions were not met, legal action would be taken against Imran Khan for the recovery of Rs10 billion in damages under the ordinance.