Imran Khan given last chance to submit reply in defamation suit filed by Shahbaz Sharif

LAHORE - The chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan was granted a last chance by a civil court in Lahore to submit a response in the Rs10 billion defamation suit filed by Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif.

The suit was filed after the PTI supremo alleged that he was offered Rs10 billion by a close associate of the chief minister Punjab to keep mum over the Panama papers case against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

During today's hearing, Imran’s lawyer Babar Awan submitted an advocate letter on behalf of his client, however, perturbed by the continued absence of PTI supremo, the court adjourned the hearing of the case until October 9, giving Imran a last chance to submit a response.

The case was filed in the court of Lahore additional sessions judge Azfar Sultan under section 4 (defamation actionable) and 9 (remedies) of Defamation Ordinance, 2002.

On April 25, during a gathering at Shaukat Khanum Hospital, Lahore, Imran Khan alleged that he was offered a staggering Rs10 billion to retreat on the Panama case, which was under top court's scrutiny at the time.

"Just imagine how much money he offered me to be silent — Rs10 billion! If he can offer me this much money, just imagine how much he could offer others," Khan had claimed.

The cricketer-turned-politician, however, refused to name the individual who had made the offer.