UK court rejects Shehbaz Sharif’s plea for stay in defamation case

LONDON: A British court has rejected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s request for an indefinite adjournment in the defamation case against the tabloid Daily Mail.

According to media reports, Shehbaz Sharif’s defamation case was heard in the London court by Justice Matthew Nicklin. The prime minister’s counsel requested an indefinite adjournment but the court denied more time to the applicant.

The prime minister’s lawyers said their client was currently engaged in professional responsibilities and should be granted time to submit his replies in court. Justice Nicklin denied the request, saying “in his court, the prime minister and the common man are equal”.

Shehbaz Sharif and his son-in-law Ali Imran have not responded to the defense of Daily Mail in court. If they fail to respond then they would have to pay the defendant all the cost of the legal proceedings, media reports said.

In 2019, the prime minister served a legal notice on the British daily and its journalist David Rose for blaming him for misappropriating public funds.

The British paper alleged that Shehbaz Sharif misappropriated UK taxpayers’ money, in particular, government aid intended for the victims of the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan while he was serving as Chief Minister Punjab.

Shehbaz Sharif filed the suit claiming damages as well as an injunction restraining the newspaper from publishing the ‘defamatory words’. The story in question was written by British reporter David Rose.

Big news in Daily mail defamation case in London.
Pakistan PM @CMShehbaz faced befitting 3 stage defeat in his application for (indefinite) delay in defamation case in the High Court in London against Daily Mail & @DavidRoseUK 1/3

— Mirza Shahzad Akbar (@ShazadAkbar) November 10, 2022

If he fails to file any acceptable rebuttals he loses his case and further cost order will be made against him.
Lets see how his Spin(Lady) doctor @Marriyum_A spins this one!

— Mirza Shahzad Akbar (@ShazadAkbar) November 10, 2022

In a series of tweet, the former adviser said the Shehbaz Sharif faced a “befitting 3 stage defeat” in his application for a delay in the defamation case in the High Court in London against Daily Mail and David Rose

He said the British court refused his application for delay, and ordered him to file his (acceptable) rebuttal to Daily Mail defence and imposed cost of hearing.

He said if Shehbaz Sharif is able to file some sort or acceptable rebuttal, the trial will be held next year. If he fails to file any acceptable rebuttals he loses his case and further cost order will be made against him, he added.

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