ISLAMABAD, March 16: Leader of the House in the Senate Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari on Wednesday sued PTI Chairman Imran Khan for damages in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for maligning his name by leveling land grabbing allegations against him. He contented in the petition filed through his council Sheikh Khizar that the PTI Chairman could not prove the allegations leveled against him in his petition filed in the Supreme Court in December last alleging him that he was involved in the grabbing of the CDA land.

Justice Riaz Ahmed Khan of IHC issued notice to Imran Khan asking him to respond to the suit for damages filed by PPP Senator Nayyar Bukhari.

Advocate Sheikh told Dawn that the apex court took up the matter in January regarding the grabbing of 80 kanal land of Capital Development Authority (CDA) near Bani Galla, Islamabad. But the CDA in its report informed the SC that no land had been grabbed by Senator Bukhari.

The CDA retrieved the land from the possession of different people but not from the PPP senator. Though Bukhari's younger brother was allegedly involved in land grabbing but the CDA had dispelled the impression about the involvement of Nayyar Bukhari in the land grabbing.

In his sue for damages, the senator contended that Imran Khan must tender unconditional apology for maligning his name and pay Rs20 million as damages.

It may be mentioned here that Supreme Court after hearing Imran Khan's application had directed the CDA to submit reply on the issue. The CDA in its report said that 300 kanals of land were recovered from different people while eighty kanals of land was recovered from the possession of Rizwan Shah, younger brother of Nayyar Bokhari.

Bokhari said in his petition that the accusations against him had proved false but he had to undergo mental agony due to the allegations.