Shahbaz to file defamation suit against Imran over corruption allegations

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday denied corruption allegations leveled against him by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and instead threatened to initiate defamation charges against the PTI chief, ARY News reported. 

Shahbaz, while addressing a press conference, said that Imran Khan had previously leveled allegations worth Rs. 35 billion but was unable to provide any evidence.

Therefore, he would not reply to Imran Khan this time and will instead sue him for defamation worth Rs.26 billion.

He alleged that people of Pakistan will never endorse the politics of lies and slander, and will not forgive Imran for disrupting national progress through his political antics. He also said that he will make sure to take the defamation suit to its logical conclusion.

I’m going to file a defamation suit of worth Rs 26 billion & 54 crores against Imran in the court of law for his blatant lies & allegations

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) October 26, 2016

“Imran Khan should not lie to the people,” said the Chief Minster, who said that he has hurried from Islamabad to address the charges against him. He said that he would be guilty infront of the 200 million people of Pakistan if the corruption allegations were proved against him.

He vowed that he would resign if the corruption allegations were proved against him. Instead he said that he had save billions of ruppees ins several projects and any corruption allegations are completely unfounded.

Imran Khan’s accusations and response 

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan had alleged that one Javed Sadiq is the frontman for Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. He showed an investigative papers that Sadiq was awarded contracts leading to Rs.26 billion in commission.

The documents showed that Javed Sadiq, who is a Canadian national, was awarded contracts and consultancy details worth Rs.480 billion including commissions worth Rs26.55 billion through his management firm.

In response, Imran said that he was amused by the press conference of Shahabaz Sharif and said the Sharif brother have a history of lying including Mehran Bank scandal, freezing of foreign currency accounts, and their claim of no deal with Saudi Arabia while in exile.

He said that Jehangir Khan Tareen had already sued Shahbaz Sharif for Rs.10 billion which has not been answered. He also said that Aleem Khan will be sending another libel notice for Rs.30 billion.

1. Was amused by Shahbaz Sharif’s hysterical response to my press conf. His histrionics recalled the saying “the lady doth protest too much”

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 26, 2016

4. For leveling false accusations ag them, JKT sued SS for libel to amt of Rs 10 b & Aleem Khan sending SS libel notice for Rs 30 b tomorrow

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 26, 2016