LONDON – The Transport for London (TfL), British capital’s transport regulator has issued an apology to Pakistan over offensive advertising campaign across its network regarding Balochistan.
A communication between Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner, and Mike Brown MVO, the TfL’s commissioner of transport suggests that Pakistan protested heavily against the ‘Free Balochistan’ ads that popped up on double-decker buses of London, a week after they were removed from the cabs.
The TfL confirmed that an internal inquiry had concluded that Pakistan’s legal position on the issue of “free Balochistan” adverts on London transport network was right and clear and “Advertising Policy” breaches were found on its part.
The TfL received the first letter from Pakistan High Commission on 2nd of November, when anti-Pakistan campaign emerged on London black taxi services, and then on 7th November when campaign on red buses stated.
Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri wrote to TfL focusing on legal points and how rules of Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) and TfL’s guidelines were clearly breached, therefore giving Pakistan enough grounds for a possible legal action, The News reported.
The TfL’s inquiry found that on both occasions it was TfL’s mistake that these adverts were displayed. The Commissioner for Transport said that unfortunately the Advertising Policy was broken and ‘for that we apologise’.
‘We have written to our advertising partners to remind them of their responsibilities in relation to our Advertising Policy,’ he added.
The Transport Commissioner has written to Pakistan High Commissioner, Syed Ibne Abbas that an internal investigation concluded that they were in breach of our Advertising Policy, as relating to matters of public controversy or sensitivity and advertising agency responsible for posting these adverts was requested that they be removed as soon as possible.
He continued that licensed taxis were only permitted to carry advertisements complying with TfL’s Advertising Policy.
He explained that all the taxis have removed advertisement and any taxi displaying the same adverts will be issued with an “unfit notice” and driver’s license suspended.
Mike Brown explained that he has asked all advertisements planned by the advertising agency in question to send to him in advance of their installation assuring Pakistani authorities that no similar adverts will be allowed in future.
