ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan has suspended further proceedings before a Lahore trial court in the Rs10 billion defamation case against former prime minister Imran Khan and issued a notice to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif seeking his reply.
A SC three-member bench headed by Justice Ayesha Malik, and comprising Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim heard a review petition challenging the trial court’s decision to strike off Imran Khan’s right of defence in the defamation suit filed by Shehbaz Sharif.
During the proceedings, Imran Khan’s counsel, Ali Zafar, argued that his client had been unable to appear before the trial court due to a gunshot injury to his leg. He submitted that the trial court had earlier acknowledged the injury and granted exemption from personal appearance on two occasions, but later terminated his right of defence despite those circumstances.
Justice Ayesha Malik observed that if the trial court had accepted that the accused was injured and had granted exemptions on that basis, it needed to explain how his right of defence could subsequently be withdrawn.
The counsel requested the apex court to stay the trial court proceedings, informing the bench that evidence was currently being recorded and the matter had reached its concluding stage. He added that the plaintiff, Shehbaz Sharif, had already recorded his statement via video link in May 2025.
After hearing arguments, the Supreme Court restrained the trial court from taking further action in the case and adjourned the hearing for an indefinite period.
The defamation suit dates back to 2017, when Imran Khan alleged that Shehbaz Sharif had offered him Rs10 billion to remain silent in connection with the Panama Papers case.
Shehbaz Sharif rejected the allegation as false and malicious and subsequently filed a Rs10 billion defamation claim in a Lahore sessions court.
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