Pakistani media on alert after TV channel’s libel defeat in British court

[Gabbar Singh]

An interesting case from the British courts may just make Pakistani (and other stations in the region) tv channels think twice when it comes to defamation.

Pakistani media on alert after TV channel’s libel defeat in British court
Ruling against ARY could act as a deterrent for stations that broadcast in UK and carry out defamatory attacks on public figures

A libel victory in a British court has posed a major challenge to the bare-knuckle style of Pakistani television channels that specialise in wild attacks on public figures, often at the behest of the country’s intelligence agencies.

Earlier this month Mir Shakil ur Rahman, a Dubai-based media tycoon who owns the Jang newspaper group and Geo television, won a significant victory against ARY, which like most other Pakistani television stations is answerable to British courts because it rebroadcasts in the UK.

The court found ARY guilty of making 24 separate defamatory claims against Rahman and ordered the channel to pay damages of £185,000. When costs are included ARY’s total bill is thought to be almost £3m.

Salman Raja, a leading lawyer, said Rahman’s victory would act as a deterrent because television stations could no longer rely on complaints getting lost in Pakistan’s dysfunctional legal system.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...bel-defeat-british-court-ary?CMP=share_btn_wa

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Good. I don't watch any of that rubbish but it's about time that these broadcasters understood their obligations, and it's a proud day for Christian Britain that they could guide their Muslim counterparts on the meaning of standards and integrity.