PESHAWAR – The Peshawar Sessions Court has issued a detailed written verdict in a defamation lawsuit filed by Awami National Party (ANP) leader Asfandyar Wali Khan against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shaukat Yousafzai, directing the latter to pay Rs. 1 million in damages.
The court’s written judgment, comprising 11 pages, was made public and confirms that the court accepted Asfandyar Wali Khan’s defamation claim, ruling in his favour after a prolonged legal battle.
The case stems from a press conference held by Shaukat Yousafzai on July 26, 2019, during which he made controversial remarks against Asfandyar Wali. In his statements, Yousafzai alleged that Asfandyar Wali Khan had “sold out the heads of the Pashtuns,” a statement which ANP argued was baseless, defamatory, and politically motivated.
In response to the allegations, Asfandyar Wali Khan filed a defamation suit demanding Rs. 1 billion in damages, claiming that the remarks had seriously harmed his reputation and political standing.
During the court proceedings, Shaukat Yousafzai defended himself by stating that he had merely referred to comments made earlier by Azam Hoti. However, the court found this defence insufficient and ruled that the statements made by Yousafzai constituted a personal attack that lacked justification. The court concluded that the accusations made in the press conference were damaging Asfandyar Wali’s public image and could not be defended under the right to free speech or political expression.
Lawyers representing Asfandyar Wali Khan argued that the remarks were part of a deliberate attempt to tarnish his reputation and credibility in the public eye, particularly among his supporters and the Pashtun community.
After careful consideration of the evidence and arguments presented by both sides, the Sessions Court ruled in favour of the plaintiff and ordered Shaukat Yousafzai to pay Rs. 1 million in compensation for the harm caused by the defamatory remarks.
This ruling is being seen as a significant development in Pakistan’s legal efforts to address defamation and hold public figures accountable for their statements.
Read also: Shaukat Yousafzai Opposes Azam Swati’s public disclosure of secret talks
