ARY CEO, two anchors summoned for hearing in lawsuit filed by minister

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 13 June 2016

A district judge in Islamabad has summoned ARY CEO Salman Iqbal and two anchors for a hearing in a defamation case. The lawsuit was filed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar regarding alleged libelous content aired by ARY News.

Summary

ISLAMABAD - A district judge in Islamabad has summoned ARY Chief Executive Salman Iqbal (pictured), and anchors Arshad Sharif and Asad Kharal for a hearing on June 17 in a lawsuit filed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

Legal notices were served on the three after the minister took strong exception to the "defamatory and slanderous telecasts/publications" against him by ARY News in “News @ 3 with Maria Memon” aired on April 16, 2016.

The notices said the channel had aired libelous content alleging the minister held a meeting with Panamian Deputy Minister for Economy, Ivan Zarak in Washington, without seeking any confirmation.

The respondents were asked to publish an apology in leading newspapers and also air it on their channel within days of the notice and also pay a sum of Rs1 billion each to the minister in damages failing which legal proceedings against them would be initiated.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance said the Panama Deputy Minister, Ivan Zarak had denied such a meeting ever took place with Pakistan's finance minister.

Related post from JournalismPakistan.com Archives:

Finance minister serves legal notices on ARY CEO, two anchors

KEY POINTS:

• Finance Minister Ishaq Dar filed a lawsuit against ARY CEO and two anchors.
• The lawsuit is for defamatory content aired by ARY News on April 16, 2016.
• Respondents must issue a public apology and pay Rs1 billion each in damages.
• The Panama Deputy Minister denied any meeting with Pakistan's finance minister.
• Hearing is scheduled for June 17.