Peshawar( Khyber Point)The Peshawar High Court has transferred a defamation case filed against the Speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly to the Sales Tax Tribunal, moving it out of the district court where it had previously been under hearing.
According to an official statement, the shift was made as part of efforts to expedite justice by referring cases to specialized courts. The order also noted that similar cases involving the provincial assembly and its officials are being redirected to special forums.
The case was filed by Advocate Ali Azim Afridi, who alleged that the Speaker and his press secretary had issued derogatory remarks against him when he served as a legal adviser. Afridi filed a defamation suit seeking damages worth 100 million rupees after the Speaker allegedly failed to respond to a legal notice.
Afridi said the last hearing of the case took place on August 22, when the Speaker was expected to submit a reply. However, instead of continuing proceedings in the district court, the High Court redirected the matter to the Sales Tax Tribunal. Expressing concern, he questioned the criteria for sending such cases to a tribunal already burdened with pending matters.
“The defamation suit against the Speaker cannot be abandoned under any circumstances,” Afridi stated, reaffirming his intent to pursue the matter until justice is served.
The move has raised eyebrows among legal observers, with questions emerging over whether the tribunal is the appropriate forum for a defamation case. The Speaker’s office has yet to issue a formal response. The case highlights growing tensions between political officeholders and members of the legal community, as well as broader concerns about judicial efficiency.
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