The QWP leader has filed an application through his counsel, Baber Khan Yousafzai. The judgment was sought following a written statement submitted in court by the PTI chief.
Former provincial minister and Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) leader Bakht Baidar Khan has asked a district and sessions court to issue a judgment in his favour in the billion-rupee defamation suit against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.
The QWP leader has filed an application through his counsel, Baber Khan Yousafzai. The judgment was sought following a written statement submitted in court by the PTI chief.
In his written reply, Imran admitted to making comments about Bakht Baidar. However, he clarified they were not aimed at maligning the plaintiff or his political party.
“The written statement suggests the remarks were made for the public good and served to ensure corruption is eliminated from the province,” stated the application.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Yousafzai said once this application is accepted, Bakht Baidar’s legal team will not need to nominate a representative to verify Imran’s Twitter account.
“The PTI chairman has admitted that my client was ousted,” he said. “Once the application is accepted, they will estimate the losses incurred by his removal.”
According to the application, a written statement submitted by the PTI chief has admitted the applicant’s plea. “Thus the court has the power to pass a judgment based on the admission made by any party at any stage of the proceedings,” stated the application.
However, the Peshawar High Court has restrained the district and sessions judge from passing any final verdict in the case. The next date of hearing has been fixed for February 21.
On April 1, 2014, the court of district and sessions judge rejected Imran Khan’s application seeking the dismissal of the defamation suit.
Bakht Baidar was sacked in November 2013 along with another QWP leader, Ibrar Hussain Tanoli, who was serving as the minister for forest, on corruption charges.
Later, Baidar sent a legal notice to Imran Khan to tender an apology, but got no response from the PTI chief. In December 2013, Baidar filed a defamation suit of Rs1 billion against the PTI chairman for removing him from the cabinet without any proof of alleged corruption.
Last year, Bakht Baidar’s legal team sent a letter to the headquarters of Twitter in San Francisco to nominate a representative who could verify the account used by Imran Khan to announce Baidar’s removal from public office.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2015.
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