Decision reserved on Gill’s acquittal plea

An additional district and sessions judge on Saturday reserved decision on an application filed by the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Shehbaz Gill for acquittal from a defamation case.

The judge reserved the decision after both sides completed arguments on the application.

The petitioner’s counsel implored the court that a false suit had been filed to humiliate him.

However, the lawyer of the plaintiff company contended that Gill’s allegedly false statement had damaged its reputation.

The petitioner company Turizm Tasimacilik had stated in the defamation suit that it was a part of Albayrak group of companies which belonged to Turkey.

Read ‘It's my job’: Annoyed Shibli stops Gill from speaking to media

Since 2012, as a leader company, Albayrak group has been operating in public transport and waste management services in Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Lahore.

It contended that Gill, during a TV talk show on September 26, 2020 in his personal capacity made defamatory allegations against the company.

It prayed the court that the respondent be tried under sections 499 and 500 of Pakistan Penal Code.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2021.