Key Takeaways
- Islamabad court rules in favor of Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal.
- Murad Saeed ordered to pay Rs2.5 million in damages for defamation.
- Saeed failed to provide supporting evidence for his allegations.
An additional sessions court in Islamabad has ruled in favor of Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal in a defamation suit against former federal minister Murad Saeed, ordering the latter to pay Rs2.5 million in damages.
The case stems from a 2019 press conference where Saeed accused Iqbal of corruption in the Multan-Sukkur Motorway project, alleging that Iqbal had used his influence as a federal minister to award the project and received Rs70 billion in kickbacks through Javed Sadiq.
Judge Hakim Khan announced the verdict on Saturday, stating that Saeed's allegations of corruption, abuse of authority, and receiving illegal commissions constituted defamation against Iqbal. The court observed that these allegations had damaged Iqbal’s reputation, honour, and dignity, creating a negative impression among the public.
The court further noted that Saeed neither appeared before the court nor produced any evidence in support of his claims. He had initially sought Rs10 billion in damages but was ordered to pay only Rs2.5 million as compensation.
In its judgment, the court held that the amount claimed by Saeed was excessive and instead awarded a more reasonable sum based on the available evidence. The ruling reflects the court's assessment of the seriousness of the allegations and their impact on Iqbal’s integrity.
The case highlights the legal consequences faced by politicians who make unsubstantiated claims, emphasizing the importance of providing credible evidence in such matters.
