Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has taken legal action against Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel by sending a defamation notice amounting to Rs10 billion.
This follows Patel’s recent press conference where he made various claims, including questioning the “mental stability” of the former prime minister.
Last week, the government disclosed confidential medical reports allegedly conducted during Imran Khan’s recent detention. The reports stated that no fractures were found in his legs, but traces of alcohol and an illegal drug were detected in his urine sample.
Abdul Qadir Patel, at a press conference held in Karachi, described these medical reports as “public documents” and asserted that he did not require permission to release them.
Imran Khan’s defamation notice, sent under Section 8 of the Defamation Ordinance, 2002, accuses Patel of circulating “wrongful, baseless, false, misleading, erroneous, malicious, and defamatory” information during the May 26 press conference.
The notice highlighted that the report failed to mention a head injury sustained by Imran on the day of his “illegal arrest” on May 9. It further pointed out that although the medical report emphasized Imran’s mental state, it lacked details of any examination conducted in this regard.
Imran’s legal notice asserts that Patel intentionally and maliciously made the defamatory remarks, violating the ethical standards expected of a federal cabinet member. It claims that Patel’s statements have caused damage to Imran’s reputation, harmed his goodwill, and negatively affected his honor. The notice also highlights the emotional trauma, mental anguish, and distress caused to Imran by Patel’s claims.
The notice demands that Patel retract his statements in the same manner as they were originally made, issue an unconditional apology, and admit that he misrepresented the facts.
Additionally, Patel is called upon to pay Rs10 billion, which will be donated to the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, as compensation for defaming Imran and leveling false allegations against him. The notice also warns that legal proceedings will be initiated if the minister fails to comply within 15 days.
