ISLAMABAD:The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of a defamation case filed against the founder of PTI, deferring proceedings until a decision is announced in a related review petition.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Hashim Khan Kakar heard the case. During the hearing, Justice Kakar inquired whether the matter was of a civil nature, to which counsel for Shehbaz Sharif responded that it was indeed a civil case and required considerable time.
The counsel further informed the court that the PTI founder had submitted his reply after a delay of four years.
At this point, Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb remarked that a defamation case involves two parties and, under the law, such cases should ideally be decided within six months.
Counsel for the PTI founder urged the court not to take a one-sided view, assuring that all facts would be presented before the bench.
He also informed the court that the related review petition has been fixed for hearing on April 7.
Subsequently, the court ruled that the present case would be taken up after the decision in the other review matter, and adjourned the hearing accordingly.