Imran summoned again in defamation suit of Fouzia
PESHAWAR: A local court has 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 additional district and sessions judge Shah Waliullah Hamid Hashmi asked the premier to appear before the court in person or through counsel on Sept 29 warning 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 has filed the suit for recovery of damages to the tune of Rs500 billion from the premier for defaming her by leveling ‘baseless’ allegations.
Syed Ghufranullah Shah, lawyer for the plaintiff, said despite issuance of summons thrice, Imran Khan didn’t appear before the court and therefore, the court should send summons to the Prime Minister’s House for delivery to the defendant.
The suit was filed in June this year under the Defamation Ordinance, 2002. The only defendant in it is PTI chief Imran Khan, who 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 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. –Dawn