PESHAWAR, Aug 23: A local court on Saturday recorded evidence of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President Ghulam Sarwar Mohmand in a defamation suit filed by former NWFP chief secretary Khalid Aziz against Pakistan Television.

The court of additional district and sessions judge, Sardar Mohammad Irshad Khan, fixed Sept 13 for next hearing and summoned former federal minister and PPP leader Naseerullah Babar on next date.

Mr Aziz has claimed damages of Rs500 million from the PTV, claiming that the PTV defamed him and his entire family by screening a drama “Saza-o-Jaza” on March 15, 2000. The plaintiff claimed that the characters and scenes shown in the drama were meant to defame him.

Mr Mohmand, who appeared as plaintiff-witness, stated that Mr Aziz belonged to a noble family of the province and was a trustworthy person.

He added that he knew Mr Aziz for the last 15 years and during that period he found him a thorough gentlemen.

The witness stated that he had watched the play in question on March 15, and the play was meant to defame Mr Aziz. He claimed that after viewing the play he was of the opinion that the characters included in the play were mostly connected with the life of Mr Aziz. He added that the play not only defamed the plaintiff, his entire family was also ridiculed in it.

Mr Aziz was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in 1999 on the charge of possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. Later, he was convicted by an accountability court.

While he was undergoing the prison term, NAB filed another reference against him about provision of furniture by his firm for primary schools when he was additional chief secretary.

He stated the amount mentioned in the reference was already included in the earlier reference and this was a case of double jeopardy.

He was released on bail by the high court, whereas the trial in that reference is still in progress.