LAHORE: In the defamation case filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif against PTI founder Imran Khan, Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmad Khan recorded a key witness statement, declaring Imran Khan’s allegations to be false.
Session Judge Lahore Yalmaz Ghani had summoned Malik Ahmad Khan as a witness in the Rs.10 billion defamation suit. The speaker appeared before the court today and submitted his statement.
In his testimony, the PA speaker said that Imran Khan had levelled false accusations of bribery against Shehbaz Sharif. He added that in April 2017, the PTI founder made serious allegations which were aired across multiple TV channels.
He said he has a political association with Shehbaz Sharif, who served the public both as chief minister and prime minister. He further stated that, in his view, Imran Khan’s allegations were part of a misleading propaganda campaign against Shehbaz Sharif.
He added that Islam strictly prohibits lying and backbiting. “Making up stories against someone is also religiously impermissible. The plaintiff has every right to bring this claim before the court,” he said.
During cross-examination, Khan’s counsel Ahmad Hussain asked whether all the TV programs mentioned by the witness were aired from Punjab. Malik Ahmad Khan replied that they were national programs aired on national broadcasters, though not all of them were aired from Punjab.
When asked if he knew what the Panama case was, Malik Ahmad Khan responded that Panama Papers referred to a list of individuals with offshore investments.
The lawyer further asked if the PTI founder had filed a petition in the Supreme Court related to the Panama Papers. Malik Ahmad Khan replied that he had no knowledge of such a petition.
When asked if he knew that Imran Khan’s petition was filed against former PM Nawaz Sharif and others, he said he was not aware of the details.
However, he acknowledged that it was correct Nawaz Sharif was convicted in the Panama Papers case.
The lawyer then asked whether the plaintiff filed the defamation suit only because of that case, to which Malik Ahmad Khan said the suggestion was incorrect.
After completing cross-examination, the court summoned more witnesses for the next hearing and adjourned the case until December 13.
Speaking to the media after recording his statement, Malik Ahmad Khan said that although parliamentary amendments were passed today, he had been advocating these points for 15 years. “I thank God that Parliament has spoken for itself. How can Parliament surrender its authority?” he said.
He added that he came to court today with a heavy mind, as the case has been ongoing for seven years. “Whenever we talk about fixing the system, uproar begins. Only Parliament has the right to amend the Constitution — not the Supreme Court. Even the IMF report says Parliament should be made more effective.”
The speaker said: “Is the PTI founder some special untouchable? Shehbaz Sharif was held under the same jail manual. He was not even allowed home-cooked food.”
He remarked that the jail manual does not mention any right to meet the KP chief minister. “When TLP commits something like May 9, bans are imposed on them. Yet decisions like the Panama case and sending a prime minister home have continued in the past,” he added.
