LAHORE – Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan on Friday recorded his statement as a witness in the defamation suit filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif against PTI founder Imran Khan.
Session Judge Lahore Yilmaz Ghani had summoned Malik Ahmad Khan in the Rs10 billion defamation case, following which the Speaker appeared before the court and submitted his testimony.
In his statement, Malik Ahmad Khan said Imran Khan had levelled “false allegations of bribery” against Shehbaz Sharif. He said the PTI founder made these “serious accusations” in April 2017, which were later aired across multiple television channels.
He told the court that he had a longstanding political association with Shehbaz Sharif, adding that the PML-N president had served the public both as chief minister and prime minister. He said the allegations by Imran Khan amounted to “misleading propaganda” against Shehbaz Sharif.
He further stated that Islam strictly prohibits falsehood and backbiting, adding that making accusations based on lies is unacceptable both morally and religiously. “The plaintiff has the right to seek justice by bringing this claim before the court,” he said.
During cross-examination, Imran Khan’s counsel Ahmad Hussain Chotiana asked whether the television programmes mentioned by Malik Ahmad Khan were aired from Punjab. The Speaker responded that these were national programmes carried by national broadcasters, adding that “it is correct that not all programmes were aired from Punjab.”
When asked whether he understood what the Panama Papers case was, Malik Ahmad Khan said it involved a list of individuals with offshore investments.
The lawyer further asked if it was correct that the PTI founder had filed a petition in the Supreme Court on the Panama Papers. The Speaker replied that he had no knowledge of such a petition.
Asked whether he was aware that Imran Khan’s petition was filed against Nawaz Sharif and others, Malik Ahmad Khan said he did not have detailed information.
The counsel then asked if it was true that Nawaz Sharif was convicted in the Panama Papers case. The Speaker replied, “Yes, that is correct.”
When asked whether the plaintiff (Shehbaz Sharif) filed a false claim solely because of this case, Malik Ahmad Khan said, “This is incorrect.”
After completing the cross-examination, the court summoned additional witnesses for the next hearing and adjourned further proceedings until December 13.
Speaking to the media after recording his testimony, the Punjab Assembly Speaker said that although parliamentary amendments were passed today, he had been advocating the same position for the past 15 years. “I thank Allah that the parliament has asserted its authority. How can the parliament surrender its constitutional right?” he said.
He added that attending the court had been mentally exhausting, as the case had been ongoing for seven years. “Whenever there is talk of fixing the system, an uproar begins. Only Parliament has the right to legislate, not the Supreme Court,” he remarked, adding that IMF assessments also recommend strengthening the role of parliament.
Criticising the PTI founder, he asked, “Is the PTI founder some special exception?” He said Shehbaz Sharif was kept in prison strictly under the jail manual and was not even allowed home-cooked meals. “Where in the jail manual is it written that a chief minister can meet inmates from KP?” he added.
He further said that when TLP committed acts similar to those of May 9, the group was banned, but in contrast, Panama and disqualification cases continued to emerge against elected prime ministers.
