The authorities in Dubai have rejected an attempt by Pakistani politician Imran Khan’s lawyer to lodge a criminal defamation suit against Geo News, its anchor Shahzeb Khanzada, and Dubai-based businessman Umer Farooq Zahoor. Khan had announced in December 2022 that he had instructed his lawyer to file the suit and criminal proceedings in the United Arab Emirates, but the Dubai police refused to entertain the request due to a lack of evidence. Khan’s lawyer failed to initiate the proceedings, as they did not have any relevance in local laws and matters, and he was unable to convince the police on the merits of the case. The development came after Zahoor claimed in Khanzada’s show that Khan’s people sold an expensive wristwatch in 2019, gifted to Khan by the Saudi Crown Prince, for $2 million.