KARACHI: Additional Sessions Judge Abdul Qudoos Memon has rejected the application of Jang Group of Newspapers and Geo Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakeelur Rehman for permanent exemption from attending the hearing in the case titled Aqeel Karim Dhedhi vs Mir Shakeelur Rehman. The complainant had filed a defamation suit against Shakeelur Rehman for publishing “defamatory remarks, against AKD Group and its chairman, Aqeel Karim Dhedhi. The defence counsel has contended that the case is based on misleading facts. However, while rejecting this plea, Judge Abdul Qudoos Memon asked the counsel to ensure Mir Shakeel’s presence in the court on the next hearing of the case. In his order he said, “For the foregoing reasons and keeping in view the settled position of law and the procedure given in the court to entertain these applications, I have come to the firm view that applications merits no consideration hence, dismissed.” It was also brought to the notice of the court that in another case non-bailable arrest warrants had been issued for Rehman. The judge took notice of this and asked the defense counsel to ensure his presence in the court. In his complaint, Aqeel Karim Dhedhi has pleaded that he is a well-known business figure of Pakistan and deals with numerous business communities inside and outside of Pakistan. He said he had a good reputation amongst people in every walk of life and has been defamed by the accused, Mir Shakeel through getting defamatory publications. The complaint also states that complaints were also filed by Mehwish and Jahangir Siddiqui Foundation, JS Bank and JS Company against Aqeel Karim Dhedhi and ARY TV anchor Mubashir Lucman, Iftikhar Shafi and Khalil Masood for making false and baseless allegations wherein the complainant had paid for the registration of cases against the accused. The complaint was proceeded in and after due process it was registered and brought on regular file keeping in view of the principle set out in the case reported in PLD 2002 section 514, 217, YLT -2126, 1980 SEMR 843 and 2014 SEMR 1762, and the accused were issued summons at first instance to appear with further direction to furnish solvent surety of Rs 50,000 each. staff report