Khawaja Asif serves legal notice on Usman Dar, his mother

Sialkot: Khawaja Asif, a senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), has served a Rs1 billion defamation notice to former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Dar and his mother.

Khawaja Asif through his notice said that Dar and his mother made baseless accusations to tarnish his reputation.

The defamation notice demanded that Dar and his mother, Rehana Dar, pay Rs1 billion in damages within a 14-day period.

Both politicians, originally from Sialkot, contested the 2018 elections from the National Assembly’s NA-73 constituency, where Asif emerged victorious over Dar. Following a recent raid on Dar’s residence, Rehana accused Asif of orchestrating the police action and claimed mistreatment by the raiding party.

In a video statement, Dar's mother described her house being forcibly entered by individuals who physically assaulted her, pulled her hair, and tore her shirt. She asserted that Asif, upon learning about her intention to submit nomination papers, allegedly sent 20 people to her house. She appealed to Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa to intervene in the matter.

Khwaja Asif had earlier said that Dar is attempting to salvage his diminishing reputation after leaving politics.

In response to the allegations, Asif stated that if nomination papers were taken from any PTI candidate, they could easily obtain replacements, accusing the PTI of misrepresentation and evading elections.

Asif vehemently denied the allegations, emphasizing that he disapproved of such vindictive politics, always respecting his political rivals and their families.

Sialkot District Police Officer (DPO) Hasan Iqbal confirmed the raid in a video message, clarifying its purpose to apprehend an “absconding suspect Umar Dar,” who is Usman Dar’s brother. He refuted claims of physical assault on women during the raid.