ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The Supreme Court of Pakistan has temporarily stayed proceedings in a defamation case filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif against the PTI founder and has issued a notice to the Prime Minister seeking his response.
The case, involving a claim of Rs10 billion, will be scheduled for urgent hearing.
During the hearing, Justice Ayesha Malik noted that no representative appeared for the other side and highlighted her dissenting note in the case.
Previously, a two-judge bench had upheld the trial court’s decision to terminate the founder’s right to defend due to his absence.
The founder’s counsel, Ali Zafar, argued that the founder was unable to attend the trial because he was injured by a gunshot wound in his leg.
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Despite the court recognizing his injuries on two occasions, the trial court had still terminated his right to defend, and witness statements were being recorded in his absence.
Justice Ayesha Malik questioned how the trial court could deny the right to defense after acknowledging the founder’s injuries.
She clarified that the Supreme Court was issuing notices to the opposing party while reviewing the legality of the trial court’s actions.
The defamation case revolves around claims filed by PM Shehbaz Sharif against the PTI founder for alleged damages amounting to Rs10 billion.
The Supreme Court’s intervention ensures that the founder’s right to defense is safeguarded while proceedings are temporarily stayed.