The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Tuesday filed a defamation suit of Rs 5 billion against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, forcing the PTI to plan to double the stakes and file its own defamation suit against the MQM worth Rs 10 billion.
MQM leaders Farooq Sattar and Senator Farogh Naseem personally filed the suit in the Sindh High Court against Khan for his statements “implicating MQM chief Altaf Hussain” in the murder of Zahra Shahid Hussain’s murder.
Khan had held Altaf responsible for Zahra’s murder and accused him of inciting violence in Pakistan through his public speeches from London.
The MQM was the petitioner, while Khan and his party, the PTI, were made respondents.
Later, talking to reporters, Sattar said it had sent a legal notice to Khan but had received no response. He said his party had now filed a petition in the court, demanding Rs 5 billion as compensation.
The MQM leader said Khan and his party had hurt the sentiments of the MQM supporters, by hurling baseless allegations against the MQM and its leadership.
“Imran showed political immaturity by accusing the MQM of murdering Zahra Shahid,” he said.
He said a politically-motivated campaign had been launched on the social media against the MQM and its chief following the murder of Zahra Shahid.
Sattar said Khan wanted to disturb peace in Sindh by provoking the people there. He also criticised the PTI for what he said was its failure in maintaining peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
PTI’s suit”
Hours later, the PTI decided to file a defamation suit against the MQM doubling the compensation amount.
PTI Information Secretary Shireen Mazari said the MQM leaders were continuously defaming PTI leader Khan “therefore, the party has decided to file a defamation suit worth Rs 10 billion against the MQM”.
She said lawyers had been consulted in this regard but the final decision would be made after Khan returned home on July 25.
She reiterated the party’s stance that the MQM was responsible for the Karachi situation, adding that a British citizen was influencing the law and order in the largest city and financial hub of the country.
Shireen said her party did not believe in blame games but the MQM’s move had forced them to take this step.