Forensic Critical Analysis of Imran Khan’s 2017-18 Defamation Case: A Critical Discourse Approach Using Fairclough’s Model"

Abstract

This study investigates the linguistic features, power relations and ideology in defamation case filed against Imran Khan by Mir Shakeel-ur-Rehman in 2017-2018. It specifically explores linguistic characteristics, power dynamics, and ideological constructs in media–politics conflicts in Pakistan. Language has been a key point of legal and political struggle, in which discourse does not merely convey claims, but also establishes a power dynamic, ideological location, and institutional authority. Although research on political and legal discourse has increased globally, there is a notable gap of forensic linguistic studies focusing on defamation cases involving media–politics conflicts in Pakistan. The study uses Fairclough’s three dimensional model, forensic linguistics and critical discourse. A mixed-method approach based on qualitative critical discourse analysis and quantitative frequency analysis of legal lexicons was adopted. The data consisted of the court issued notice titled “Legal notice for defamation under section 8 of defamation ordinance, 2002” and selected transcripts of Imran Khan’s media briefings. Qualitative findings reveal that the legal notice contains formal dictative language to legitimize institutional authority and judicial power. Khan’s counter narrative constructs him as a subjected political actor suffering from media and judicial winds of politics. Quantitative results demonstrate a high frequency of abstract legal nouns and evaluating terms reflecting ideological positioning and judicial power. The study recommends further forensic linguistic studies on political and legal discourse in Pakistan. It also highlights the importance of critical discourse analysis in understanding institutional dominance and contesting authority.