Defamation notice: PTI chief requests former CJP to reconsider damage suit
Imran says it would not be appropriate for former CJ to enter personal litigation
ISLAMABAD:
In response to Iftikhar Chaudhry's defamation notice, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan denied using ‘scandalous language' against the judiciary and requested the former chief justice of Pakistan to reconsider filing the damage suit against him.
In his eight-page response, which was filed through two of his senior lawyers Hamid Khan and Ahmad Awais on Monday, the PTI chief said it would not be appropriate for a former CJP to enter into any personal litigation.
"We are aware that your focus has been rendering services to the country and never cared about making money. We are aware that in the past you have shown immense courage and tolerance in the face of expression that could otherwise cause mental agony and harassment particularly during the course of the lawyers’ movement for the restoration of judiciary," the reply stated.
It also said that Imran never meant to cause any mental torture or harassment to the former CJ.
“We deeply appreciate your desire to contribute to the causes of the downtrodden sections of society. Our client has always been working for public causes. He will also expect your contribution of such causes in the future,” the reply further said.
The PTI chief went on to appreciate the former chief justice’s directions, judgments and observations regarding the fair and free elections – however, his judgments, he pointed out, have not been implemented.
“We believe that whatever has been said to our client was an expression of disappointment due to the failure of the ECP and judiciary to dispense justice to him and his party. The language may not be appropriate, but unfortunately so is the nature of discourse during public meetings and political press conferences.”
The reply, however, said that the former CJ should have avoided addressing speeches to returning officers (ROs) and district returning officers (DROs) before elections, adding that the judiciary should have stayed away from the election process to establish the perception of neutrality.
Earlier, the former chief justice had sent a defamation notice worth Rs20 billion to Imran under section 8 of the Defamation Ordinance, 2002.
However, the retired justice added, he would withdraw his claim if the PTI chief tendered an unconditional apology or agreed to pay Rs20 billion within a period of 14 days.
In the notice, Chaudhry said Imran had defamed him as well as the judiciary by accusing him of rigging practices in the general elections.
In response to Iftikhar Chaudhry's defamation notice, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan denied using ‘scandalous language' against the judiciary and requested the former chief justice of Pakistan to reconsider filing the damage suit against him.
In his eight-page response, which was filed through two of his senior lawyers Hamid Khan and Ahmad Awais on Monday, the PTI chief said it would not be appropriate for a former CJP to enter into any personal litigation.
"We are aware that your focus has been rendering services to the country and never cared about making money. We are aware that in the past you have shown immense courage and tolerance in the face of expression that could otherwise cause mental agony and harassment particularly during the course of the lawyers’ movement for the restoration of judiciary," the reply stated.
It also said that Imran never meant to cause any mental torture or harassment to the former CJ.
“We deeply appreciate your desire to contribute to the causes of the downtrodden sections of society. Our client has always been working for public causes. He will also expect your contribution of such causes in the future,” the reply further said.
The PTI chief went on to appreciate the former chief justice’s directions, judgments and observations regarding the fair and free elections – however, his judgments, he pointed out, have not been implemented.
“We believe that whatever has been said to our client was an expression of disappointment due to the failure of the ECP and judiciary to dispense justice to him and his party. The language may not be appropriate, but unfortunately so is the nature of discourse during public meetings and political press conferences.”
The reply, however, said that the former CJ should have avoided addressing speeches to returning officers (ROs) and district returning officers (DROs) before elections, adding that the judiciary should have stayed away from the election process to establish the perception of neutrality.
Earlier, the former chief justice had sent a defamation notice worth Rs20 billion to Imran under section 8 of the Defamation Ordinance, 2002.
However, the retired justice added, he would withdraw his claim if the PTI chief tendered an unconditional apology or agreed to pay Rs20 billion within a period of 14 days.
In the notice, Chaudhry said Imran had defamed him as well as the judiciary by accusing him of rigging practices in the general elections.