LONDON – Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif has served notices to two television channels, ARY News and New Vision TV for airing ‘baseless’ news reports in United Kingdom and Whales, according to which the younger Sharif faced investigation in Saudi Arabia over corruption.
The notice sent through the legal adviser Carter Rik also brought in question reports aired by the said television channels regarding the allegation of corruption worth $10.75m in the Multan Metro bus project against the provincial chief executive.
“Neither Shehbaz Sharif had made any investment in Saudi Arabia nor he maintains any such ties with Saudi royals” stated the legal notice and added that the broadcaster did not take the version of the chief minister before airing such news.
It has also been stated that the lawmaker quashed the allegations of corruption through a press conference in August, however, the negation was not made part of the news stories.
“On September 1, the caretaker Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Lijian Zhao had also denied such allegations against the chief minister but this was excluded from the report aired by the TV channels,” the notice continued.
Moreover, on September 4, the Chinese Foreign Minister also refuted the allegations, however, the denial was not reported, stated the notice.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/shehbaz-sharif-sends-defamation-notices-to-2-news-channels/
It was also stated that the attorney of Shehbaz Sharif had sent legal notices to executive producer, coordinator and news reporter of program Power Play, which was also not telecasted, along with the allegations which imply that the media franchises failed to inform the viewers that the allegations were baseless.
“Shehbaz Sharif is serving the people through official positions from around three decades and has spent a part of his life in England as well and so he meets the Britishers as he maintains personal relations and solid repute there” stated the notice and sought the New Vision TV to retract the allegations within a span of 14 days, air apology and assure not to repeat any such move in future.
Moreover, the provincial chief executive has also forwarded a notice to Galaxy Broadcast Network limited South-hall Middlesex regarding its report about investigations in the oil-rich kingdom and the business ties with Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah.
The media network had televised reports about investment worth SAR 30b (Saudi Riyal) by Shehbaz Sharif after embezzling funds in Europe, against which the notice has been dispatched.
It has been stated that on January 3, the PML-N leader had forwarded a notice to Galaxy Network in Pakistan, but no response was heard.
“The broadcaster should air apology within fourteen days, take back the allegations and assure not re-airing any such news, otherwise legal action would be taken against the respondent as per British laws” stated the notice.
