Khan vs sethi: ‘Time needed to give power of attorney’

LAHORE: Additional District and Sessions Judge Yasir Nadeem Razzaq on Monday adjourned hearing of a defamation suit moved by former interim chief minister Najam Sethi against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan as Khan’s counsel sought time to submit his power of attorney.  The court adjourned hearing till September 27. Khan’s counsel said that the PTI leader was busy at the sit-in in Islamabad and he needed time to obtain power of attorney to represent his client and his client’s reply. Sethi’s counsel, Advocate Usman G Rashid, said Khan had accused his client of rigging elections in 35 constituencies without presenting proof.  He said Sethi had sent Khan a legal notice which he did not bother to respond to. The counsel said Sethi had filed the defamation suit six months after he served the legal notice as Khan continued to issue false statements against Sethi. Rashid produced copies of news clippings carrying Khan’s statements against Sethi. Rashid said his client was a dignified journalist but Khan continued to issue “preposterous” statements against him.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2014.