Islamabad: Supreme Court of Pakistan has stayed proceedings in the defamation case filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif against former Imran Khan, while also issuing a notice to the Prime Minister seeking his response.

A three-judge bench, headed by Justice Ayesha Malik along with Justices Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakak and Ishtiaq Ibrahim, heard the review petition challenging the termination of Imran Khan’s right to defend himself in the Lahore trial court. The case involves a 10 billion PKR defamation claim filed by Shehbaz Sharif.

During the hearing, Imran Khan’s lawyer, Ali Zafar, informed the court that his client had been severely injured by a gunshot to his leg and could not appear in court. The trial court, however, had terminated his right of defense on this basis.

Justice Ayesha Malik remarked that since the trial court itself had acknowledged Imran Khan’s injuries and had granted him exemption from appearing on two separate dates, there was no justification to terminate his right to defense.

The lawyer further requested a stay on ongoing trial proceedings, highlighting that witness statements were currently being recorded, and that Shehbaz Sharif had already provided his testimony via video link in May 2025. The Supreme Court accepted the request and adjourned the hearing indefinitely.

Background: In 2017, Imran Khan alleged that Shahbaz Sharif had offered him a bribe of 10 billion PKR to remain silent in the Panama Papers case. Shehbaz Sharif rejected these allegations as baseless, malicious, and false, and subsequently filed a 10 billion PKR defamation suit against Imran Khan in the Lahore Sessions Court.