ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday reserved a judgment on review petitions, filed in the case related to termination of the right to defence of PTI founder chairman Imran Khan in a Rs10 billion defamation case pending in a Lahore trial court.
A three-member bench, headed by Justice Ayesha A. Malik, and comprising Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, heard the review petition filed by Imran Khan against its order, upholding the Lahore High Court verdict, striking off his right to defence in Rs10 billion defamation case.
During the hearing, Barrister Ali Zafar, counsel for the petitioner, argued the right of defence cannot be terminated unless the plaintiff files an application. He submitted that objections had been filed on their behalf, and the court had also issued an order directing them to submit a reply.
Ali Zafar further told the court that they had filed objections in March 2022, but the trial court rejected them in October 2022. He contended that on the basis of delay, the court had terminated their right to defence. The counsel requested the court to direct the trial court to restore the petitioner’s right to defence.
Meanwhile, the counsel for Shehbaz Sharif, Mustafa Ramday, opposed the request.
After hearing the arguments, the court reserved its decision.
