Ansar serves notice on Waqt anchor

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 19 February 2013

Ansar Abbasi has issued a legal notice to Ameer Abbas following a defamatory statement made about him during a Waqt News program. He seeks Rs50 million in damages for the allegations of corruption made by a guest.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: Ansar Abbasi, Editor Investigations at The News has served legal notice on Ameer Abbas (picture), an anchor with Waqt NewsTelevision for a “defamatory” statement made by a guest during a program aired by the channel.

Ansar is seeking Rs50 million in damages. In the program ‘News Special’, aired on January 1, 2013, the guest Arshad Ansari, President of the Lahore Press Club, accused Abbasi of being corrupt.

“I think he takes bribes, and goes and sets up factories in Dubai. Is this not bribe? I say there is no person more corrupt than Ansar Abbasi. He should tell how does he go and set up factories in Dubai,” the legal notice quotes Arshad as having said on the program.

The notice says the statement is absolutely false and was made with malafide intention and that Ameer being the program host did not object to the allegations.

Ansar told JournalismPakistan.com legal proceedings would be formally initiated in a couple of days.

KEY POINTS:

• Ansar Abbasi served notice to Ameer Abbas of Waqt News.
• Claims of corruption made by guest Arshad Ansari.
• Abbasi seeks Rs50 million in damages.
• Allegations aired on 'News Special' program.
• Formal legal proceedings to begin soon.