Proceedings in PM's defamation suit adjourned

LAHORE:

A district and sessions court on Saturday adjourned the hearing of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's Rs10 billion defamation suit against the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after the defendant's counsel failed to appear.

The court granted the adjournment after being informed that the PTI founder's lawyer, Muhammad Hussain Chotia, was unable to attend the proceedings due to the death of a close relative. As a result, no further proceedings were conducted, and the hearing was deferred until December 20.

During previous hearings, Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar and Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmad Khan recorded their statements before the court.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has filed the Rs10 billion defamation suit against the PTI founder, alleging that statements made by him caused serious damage to the prime minister's reputation.

Case record summoned

Meanwhile, a district and sessions court extended the interim bail of accused Ameer Fatah in the murder case of Javed Butt, brother-in-law of Tiffi Butt, and sought the relevant record from the police at the next hearing. The duty judge ordered the police to submit the case record and extended the accused's interim bail until December 22.