Finance Minister Ishaq Dar sends legal notice to BOL

JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 30 January 2017

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has filed a legal notice against BOL News and Dr. Shahid Masood for defamatory content aired on their program. The notice demands a retraction and Rs1 billion in damages, citing false allegations about meetings with military leadership.
Summary

ISLAMABAD - Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar (pictured) has served Rs1 billion legal notice each through his legal counsel on BOL News and its analyst Dr. Shahid Masood for airing/anchoring a malicious program to defame him.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the program 'Live with Dr. Shahid Masood' was aired on January 24 in which libelous and defamatory statements were made “to damage the Finance Minister’s personality and character”.

Dr. Masood confirmed receiving the notice in his show Monday. He said it was the second notice served on him by the minister and interestingly its hearing took place Monday.

A statement from the ministry said he made “a completely false statement hinting to an alleged meeting between Finance Minister and Rawalpindi (“GHQ”), whereas, no such meeting had taken place at all.”

“The story was utterly false and absolutely fictitious. The anchor’s fabrication had the malicious intent to defame and disgrace Finance Minister,” the ministry said.

The legal notice demands a comprehensive and proper apology and retraction as well as payment of a sum of Rs1 billion in damages to the minister, failing which civil and criminal proceedings will be initiated against BOL News and Dr. Masood.

The minister has also complained to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) seeking appropriate action against the channel.

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