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PESHAWAR: A local Peshawar court summoned Prime Minister Imran Khan for the fourth time. In a defamation suit filed by former MPA Fauzia Bibi over his charge of Senate election horse trading against her.
The summons issued by the additional district. Sessions judge Shah Waliullah Hamid Hashmi asked the premier to appear before the court in person or through counsel on Sept 29. He warned if the order isn’t complied with, ex-parte proceedings will begin against Imran Khan in the case. Ms. Fauzia was the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf member in the previous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.
She filed the suit for recovery of damages to the tune of Rs500 billion. From the premier for defaming her by levelling ‘baseless’ allegations.
Syed Ghufranullah Shah, the lawyer for the plaintiff, said despite issuance of summons thrice. Imran Khan didn’t appear before the court. Therefore, the court should send a summon to the Prime Minister’s House for delivery to the defendant.
She filed the suit in June this year under the Defamation Ordinance, 2002. The only defendant in it is PTI chief Imran Khan. And he became the prime minister after the July 25 general election.
Ms Fauzia said in the March 3 Senate polls. She had followed the PTI directions for casting vote in favour of all party candidates named for the general. And reserved seats for women and technocrats.
She said after the Senate polls, Imran Khan started uttering, spreading and resorting to publication, communication and circulation of maliciously false, baseless and unfounded oral statements and representation against her.
“Through all sources of expression, Imran accused me of horse trading by way of selling votes for money. Through all electronic, print and social media, which was broadcast on all TV and radio channels. Uploaded and posted on social media and published in all leading newspapers,” she said.
The plaintiff said no sooner had she received information about the defamatory statement. She clarified her position by taking oath on the Holy Quran and denied allegations.
She also added that acting on the directives of the defendant, the PTI Secretariat issued a show cause notice to her which she replied to within the stipulated time.
Ms Fauzia also said she had requested an open inquiry into the matter and sought an opportunity of hearing to contest horse trading charge.
Moreover, She said the defendant failed to conduct the sought-after inquiry and show any proof or source of information supporting his defamatory statement against her.
“The defamatory statement has totally damaged my political, social and family life besides destroying my personality,” she said.
Ms Fauzia said she later served a legal notice on Imran Khan under Section 8 of the Defamation Ordinance seeking an apology from him but he failed to comply with it.
