Hamza Shahbaz sought apology from Imran Khan

Lahore : Central leader of Pakistan Muslim League-N Hamza Shahbaz Sharif has sent a legal notice to Imran Khan through his legal team.

The legal notice addressed to Imran Khan reads, ‘We have been instructed by our client, Mr. Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, to serve upon you a legal notice as follow: That on 28 August 2016, while addressing the press conference covered by the print and electronic media, you made absolutely false and frivolous statements about our client, inter alia, that he (i) was responsible for and/or involved in the murder of the late Mr. Tanvir Mirza, (ii) pressurized Mr. Mirza to withdraw or settle any complaint filed by Mr. Mirza with the police, and/or (iii) interfered in the police investigations initiated on the basis of any complaint filed by Mr. Mirza or those relating to the unfortunate murder of Mr. Mirza.

‘That on 3 September 2016, in the speech made by you in the public rally covered by the print and electronic media, you once again made false and frivolous statements about our client, inter alia, that he (i) interacted and/or was responsible for the murder of the late Mr. Tanvir Mirza, (ii) threatened and/or pressurized Mr. Mirza to withdraw or settle any complaint filed by Mr. Mirza with police, (iii) used police to pressurize and/or threaten Mr. Mirza, (iv) and/or interfered in the police investigations initiated on the basis of the complaint filed by Mr. Mirza or those relating to the unfortunate murder of Mr. Mirza.

‘These statements are not only completely false and misleading but highly defamatory, disparaging and damaging to the repute and credibility of our client.

‘Our client is an elected Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and has been active in politics and public service for more than a decade and a half. He is a renowned politician who has been twice elected as a Member of the National Assembly. As a prominent political leader, he has a wide network of colleagues, supporters, voters, friends and acquaintance. Our client is well-known and well-respected for his devotion to public service and welfare, and love for peace and humanity. He enjoys a good reputation at local, national and international level.

‘From the repeated statements made by you, it is evident that you have launched a malicious personal campaign against our client with a deliberate intention to malign and injure his reputation and goodwill.

‘Our client vehemently denies the allegations made by you that he instructed or is involved in the murder of the late Mr. Tanvir Mirza, pressurized or threatened the deceased by police or otherwise, and/or interfered in any police investigations initiated on the basis of the complaint filed by Mr. Mirza or those relating to the unfortunate murder of Mr. Mirza. These and other false allegations/assertions made by you are completely baseless, mischievous, and nothing but figment of your imagination aimed at damaging the repute of our client.

‘Now, therefore, through this Legal Notice we hereby call upon you to immediately tender an unconditional written apology to our client and withdraw all the aforesaid allegations made by you against our client, by circulating and publishing the said apology with equal prominence in the media, both print and electronic. In case your fail to tender, circulate and publish such apology within fourteen (14) days of receipt of this Legal Notice, we have instruction from our client to initiate appropriate legal proceedings, civil and criminal, against you.

‘This, Legal Notice is absolutely without prejudice to any other right or remedies which our client have against you, and our client reserves the right to take all appropriate steps and initiate all appropriate legal proceedings against you for the aforementioned acts of defamation and slander. Any such legal proceedings undertaken by our client would be entirely at your risk and you would be held liable for the cost and consequences of any such proceedings.’