Arsalan Iftikhar mulls legal action against Pakistani channels for airing Jeddah airport footage

LONDON - Arsalan Iftikhar, son of former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry has stated that he is planning to take legal action against television channels which aired the footage showing him and his father at Jeddah airport.

Arsalan in an exclusive interview to London-based journalist Mubeen Rasheed said on Wednesday that he was travelling on business class and an announcement was made for those travelling on business class to come forward.

'I was heading to London from Jeddah for attending a wedding ceremony and as announced, I and my father came in front of the gate as were travelling on business class but a boy shouted from the back and started filming the incident' said Arsalan Iftikhar.

'My father showed grace and said 'Let's leave it and walk' claimed Arsalan Iftikhar.

He maintained that they were travelling on Pakistani passports while fulfilling all the legalities. Arsalan termed the incident sad and observed that a new culture of video recording was emerging which was a serious case of privacy breach.

Arsalan urged PEMRA to play its role and said that he was planning to file a suit against Pakistani channels before London-based regulator Ofcom.

The tycoon maintained that scores of television channels aired the footage without taking his opinion about the incident. He felt annoyed at the privacy breach and expressed that Saudi administration should also take stern action against it.

'I would write a letter to Saudi embassy to take action as the incident happened on Saudi soil' noted Arsalan Iftikhar.

It may be mentioned here that a footage went viral on the internet on Wednesday showing former Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry and his son Arsalan Iftikhar being advised not to break the queue while they were at Jeddah airport.