ISLAMABAD: Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Minister and leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra has sent a defamation notice to former fellow party member Sher Afzal Marwat, demanding Rs1 billion in damages for alleged false corruption allegations.
Jhagra sent his defamation notice through his legal counsel, Advocate Ali Gohar Durrani under Pakistan’s Defamation Ordinance, 2002.
According to the legal notice, Marwat falsely alleged during two televised talk shows on March 11, 2025, that Jhagra had embezzled Rs36 billion from the pension fund when he was a finance minister in the PTI’s led previous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.
The notice highlights that Marwat also accused Jhagra of purchasing valuable properties in Hayatabad and Islamabad using illicit funds.
The PTI leader termed the allegations as baseless, malicious, and defamatory, aimed solely at damaging his social and professional reputation. The notice categorically denies the accusations.
The notice further demands that expelled PTI leader should issue a public apology through TV channels and social media platforms where the defamatory statements circulated, retract his statements and clarify the misinformation publicly, and pay Rs1 billion in compensation for reputational and professional damages.
I have served a legal notice of defamation on @sherafzalmarwat (Mr. Sher Afzal Marwat) on behalf of Mr. Taimur @Jhagra.
The notice addresses false and defamatory statements made on national television, including baseless allegations of corruption and misconduct. pic.twitter.com/kfqLwfUHTS— Ali Gohar Durrani (@khaneliegohar) March 12, 2025
The notice said that failure to comply with these demands within 14 days will result in civil and criminal proceedings of Rs1 billion in compensation for reputational and professional damages.
Responding to the legal action, Jhagra took to social media, saying: “See you in court, Marwat. No running away now.” Meanwhile, his legal representative, Durrani, confirmed on X that the defamation notice had been officially served. Marwat has yet to respond publicly to the notice.
See you in court, Marwat. No running away now.@sherafzalmarwat https://t.co/Hy9PEk08rA
— Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) March 12, 2025
Last month, PTI founding chairman Imran Khan ordered Barrister Gohar to expel Sher Afzal Marwat from the party for violating party discipline.
