ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has filed a defamation suit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) against Geo News, its anchor Shahzeb Khanzada and Dubai-based businessman Umer Farooq Zahoor.

The former prime minister tweeted on Saturday that his lawyers had also sent notice to Geo and its owner Mir Shakilur Rehman in the United States.

“My UAE lawyers led by Hassan Shad have now filed criminal defamation (libel and slander) proceedings under the UAE law against Geo TV, Shahzeb Khanzada and fraudster Umer Farooq Zahoor,” said Mr Khan, who was ousted in April through a no-confidence vote in parliament and is now pushing for snap polls.

The development came after Mr Zahoor claimed in Mr Khanzada’s TV show last month that PTI members sold an expensive wristwatch in 2019 — gifted to former premier by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman — for $2 million, worth around Rs280m at the time of the sale. The businessman also claimed some PTI members wanted to sell the watch for $4m to $5m, but after negotiations, he purchased it for $2m. He said the payments were made in cash at Farah Khan’s insistence.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2022