An Islamabad District and Sessions Court has accepted the defamation claim filed by Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal and ordered former federal minister Murad Saeed to pay Rs2.5 million in damages. The Ahsan Iqbal defamation case relates to allegations made against Iqbal regarding corruption and misuse of authority.
Additional Sessions Judge Hakim Khan announced the decision in favour of Ahsan Iqbal, stating that the allegations made against him were not proven through evidence. The court ruled that the statements affected Iqbal’s reputation and public standing.
According to the court’s decision, Murad Saeed’s allegations of Rs70 billion corruption against Ahsan Iqbal could not be established. The court observed that claims regarding corruption, misuse of powers, and illegal commissions were defamatory in nature.
The judgment stated that Ahsan Iqbal had originally sought Rs10 billion in damages, but the court considered that amount excessive in light of the available evidence. It awarded Rs2.5 million as compensation for damage to reputation.
The court further noted that the allegations directly affected Ahsan Iqbal’s integrity, character, and credibility. It said the statements created a negative impression among the public, while Murad Saeed neither appeared before the court nor provided supporting evidence.
The case relates to statements made by Murad Saeed in 2019, when he accused Ahsan Iqbal of corruption in connection with the Multan-Sukkur Motorway project. The allegations became the basis of the legal proceedings initiated by Iqbal.
The Ahsan Iqbal defamation case highlights the importance of evidence when making public accusations. The court’s decision reinforces that unverified claims affecting a person’s reputation may result in legal consequences.
