{
  "id": 15343047,
  "title": "Arguments sought on defamation suit against PTI founder",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/arguments-sought-on-defamation-suit-against-pti-founder",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T03:41:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2037930/arguments-sought-on-defamation-suit-against-pti-founder"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A sessions court in Lahore adjourned a hearing on Saturday to seek arguments from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s counsel regarding a lawyer's application for PTI founding chairman Imran Khan. The lawyer seeks permission to meet his client at Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, for instructions on a Rs10 billion defamation suit filed by Khan against Sharif.\n\nKhan's counsel, Muhammad Hussain Chotia, argued that jail authorities were obstructing the meeting and requested the court to order the jail superintendent to permit the encounter. The additional district and sessions judge, Yalmaz Ghani, postponed the hearing until October 31 and directed the prime minister’s lawyer to present his arguments.\n\nIn 2017, Khan had filed a defamation suit against Sharif, alleging baseless allegations made by the latter in relation to the Panama Papers controversy. Khan sought a decree for compensation amounting to Rs10 billion for the publication of defamatory content. Several prominent government figures, including Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan, have already submitted statements supporting Khan's case.",
  "summary": "LAHORE: A sessions court on Saturday sought arguments from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s counsel on a miscellaneous application by a lawyer for PTI founding chairman Imran Khan seeking permission to meet his client in jail regarding a Rs10 billion defamation suit filed by the former against the latter. Earlier, Khan’s counsel, Muhammad Hussain Chotia, argued for permission to meet his client at…",
  "key_points": [
    "Lahore court adjourns hearing to seek arguments on Khan's lawyer's application.",
    "Khan's counsel argues jail authorities obstructing meeting for Rs10 billion defamation suit.",
    "Hearing postponed to October 31, directing PM's lawyer to present arguments."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Arguments sought on defamation suit against PTI founder",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/arguments-sought-on-defamation-suit-against-pti-founder-15349444",
        "published": "2026-10-18T03:41:37.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}