A local court in Pakistan delivered a verdict on Saturday, dismissing a defamation suit filed by former Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry against the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan. The suit, which sought Rs20 billion in damages, accused Khan of tarnishing Chaudhry’s reputation by alleging his involvement in the rigging of the 2013 general elections and making derogatory remarks in June 2014.
The case, filed in January 2015, was rejected by Additional District and Sessions Judge Haseena Saqlain, who stated that the defamation suit was not filed within the six-month period required by law. This timeframe is mandated to ensure the prompt pursuit of defamation claims, and failure to adhere to it results in dismissal.
In the legal suit, Chaudhry refuted the rigging allegations as baseless. He also highlighted a written response from Imran Khan’s legal team to a libel notice issued on July 24, 2013. In their response, Khan’s lawyers clarified that their client had no intention of abusing or disrespecting any judiciary member. They also suggested that Chaudhry reconsider the idea of engaging in personal litigation.
The court’s decision underscores the importance of procedural compliance in legal proceedings and marks the end of this high-profile defamation case.
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