You’ve been served: PTI chief left to fend Rs1b defamation suit
Sacked QWP minister says Imran Khan failed to reply to a notice issued on Nov 18.
Sacked QWP minister says Imran Khan failed to reply to a notice issued on Nov 18. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:
Former provincial minister from the Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Bakht Baidar has filed a Rs1 billion defamation suit against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.
The ex-minister for industries, commerce and technical education alleged the PTI chief had failed to reply to the Rs1 billion defamation notice issued to him earlier along with a deadline of 15 days to explain the decision to sack him from the provincial cabinet last month without any solid proof.
Baidar’s lawyer Babar Khan Yousufzai told The Express Tribune his client had filed the defamation case in the court of district and sessions judge Shaibar Khan, however, the judge was not available on Saturday which is why a notice for the case will be issued to the PTI chairman on Monday.
“In the last notice, we had asked Imran Khan to provide solid proof with regard to the grounds on which the minister was sacked from his post without any prior notice. It was against the law because the minister should have been allowed a right of hearing before he was sacked,” Yousafzai added.
The lawyer maintained the PTI chief was asked to render an apology because he sacked a minister through Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister (CM) Pervez Khattak and allegations were broadcast in the media which tainted the QWP leader’s reputation.
“The court is expected to issue a notice to Imran Khan on Monday and it can also summon him to clarify his position in the case. He was also asked to pay Rs1 billion for the defamation in the notice, but he failed to comply with anything that was stipulated,” the lawyer said.
Bakht Baidar, who currently occupies the general secretary post in the QWP, said the PTI chairman failed to produce proof against him within the 15 day-deadline and also confirmed that a case has been filed against him.
“The CM said in a TV show recently that the government is digging up proof against me, which shows they had no evidence to back the decision at the time of sacking. I demand the PTI chairman to apologise for his decision and to pay a sum of Rs1 billion for tainting my reputation,” said Baidar.
On November 13, on directives issued by the PTI chairman, CM Pervez Khattak fired two ministers of QWP over charges of corruption. Minister for Environment Ibrar Hussain Tanoli, and Bakht Baidar were relieved of their duties.
Soon after, QWP’s provincial chairman and senior minister in the provincial government, Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao resigned from the cabinet in protest over the decision, which he termed was an act of discrimination. In a press conference, the minister said he would instead sit in the opposition benches. In criticism of the provincial government, Sherpao alleged the PTI could not fulfil its ambitious agenda and was now trying to make QWP a scapegoat in the process.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 8th, 2013.
Former provincial minister from the Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Bakht Baidar has filed a Rs1 billion defamation suit against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.
The ex-minister for industries, commerce and technical education alleged the PTI chief had failed to reply to the Rs1 billion defamation notice issued to him earlier along with a deadline of 15 days to explain the decision to sack him from the provincial cabinet last month without any solid proof.
Baidar’s lawyer Babar Khan Yousufzai told The Express Tribune his client had filed the defamation case in the court of district and sessions judge Shaibar Khan, however, the judge was not available on Saturday which is why a notice for the case will be issued to the PTI chairman on Monday.
“In the last notice, we had asked Imran Khan to provide solid proof with regard to the grounds on which the minister was sacked from his post without any prior notice. It was against the law because the minister should have been allowed a right of hearing before he was sacked,” Yousafzai added.
The lawyer maintained the PTI chief was asked to render an apology because he sacked a minister through Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister (CM) Pervez Khattak and allegations were broadcast in the media which tainted the QWP leader’s reputation.
“The court is expected to issue a notice to Imran Khan on Monday and it can also summon him to clarify his position in the case. He was also asked to pay Rs1 billion for the defamation in the notice, but he failed to comply with anything that was stipulated,” the lawyer said.
Bakht Baidar, who currently occupies the general secretary post in the QWP, said the PTI chairman failed to produce proof against him within the 15 day-deadline and also confirmed that a case has been filed against him.
“The CM said in a TV show recently that the government is digging up proof against me, which shows they had no evidence to back the decision at the time of sacking. I demand the PTI chairman to apologise for his decision and to pay a sum of Rs1 billion for tainting my reputation,” said Baidar.
On November 13, on directives issued by the PTI chairman, CM Pervez Khattak fired two ministers of QWP over charges of corruption. Minister for Environment Ibrar Hussain Tanoli, and Bakht Baidar were relieved of their duties.
Soon after, QWP’s provincial chairman and senior minister in the provincial government, Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao resigned from the cabinet in protest over the decision, which he termed was an act of discrimination. In a press conference, the minister said he would instead sit in the opposition benches. In criticism of the provincial government, Sherpao alleged the PTI could not fulfil its ambitious agenda and was now trying to make QWP a scapegoat in the process.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 8th, 2013.