Khawaja Asif defamation case: PM appears before court via video link

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Friday appeared before the court of the additional district and sessions judge via video link in PML-N leader Khawaja Asif defamation case, ARY News reported.

As per details, PM Imran Khan attended the court proceedings through E-court service. PM Imran Khan appeared as a witness against Khawaja Asif in the case. In his affidavit submitted in the court, PM Imran Khan rejected the allegations of PML-N stalwart and termed them baseless.

Appreciating the initiative of E-court service, the premier said the use of technology helps in saving time and money. The service will be beneficial in the timely disposal of cases.

Talking to newsmen after the hearing, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Fawad Chaudhry flanked by State Minister Farrukh Habib and SAPM Dr Shahbaz Gill, said the new system has been evolved by the law ministry through which court appearance can be made via video link in Islamabad.

It is to be noted that in 2012, Prime Minister Imran Khan as chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan served Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif with a defamation notice.

Asif had blamed Khan of speculating in Dubai real estate with the donations he had collected for his Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital. He also alleged that Khan had transferred Rs4.50 billion outside the country from the hospital’s account.

The PTI chief in his notice had said that the allegations had caused damage to the fund collection for “Pakistan’s biggest charity hospital” and that if this continues, thousands of patients would be affected.