LONDON: British-Pakistani PTI activist Shayan Ali’s defamation claim against a private broadcaster – seeking almost £100,000 in damages – is moving towards trial at London’s High Court, with a key hearing expected within days, according to court records.
The proceedings concern the private television broadcast broadcast on April 2, 2022, which alleged that Shayan had attempted to attack former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif outside the Pakistan Muslim League-N office near Hyde Park and had thrown a mobile phone, which hit and injured a security guard.
Shayan has consistently denied the allegations. He maintains that he did not attack Nawaz, did not throw his phone and was recording a video outside the PML-N office when the incident occurred. No arrest was made and Shayan was not charged in connection with the alleged incident.
Shayan subsequently complained to Ofcom, the UK broadcasting regulator. Ofcom ruled in favor of Shayan, finding that the private channel had not taken reasonable care to ensure that material facts were not presented, ignored or omitted in a way that was unfair to it.
The regulator also found that the television had failed to demonstrate that it had given Shayan a timely and adequate opportunity to respond to the serious allegation that he had attempted to attack Nawaz and injured a security guard. Ofcom concluded that Shayan had been treated unfairly in the program as broadcast.
The television report alleged that Nawaz was leaving the temporary headquarters of the Pakistan Muslim League-N near Hyde Park when Shayan, who he claimed was already present as part of a plan, misbehaved and tried to approach him.
The report alleges that when security guards tried to stop Shayan, he became aggressive and threw his phone at Nawaz, hitting a security guard on the forehead and causing him an injury. He further informed that Nawaz was rushed to his vehicle while the injured security guard was taken to the hospital.
Shayan maintains that the broadcast presented the allegations as established facts and portrayed him as a criminal, causing serious damage to his reputation among viewers in the UK, Pakistan and elsewhere. He maintains that television broadcast serious and defamatory accusations without giving him an adequate opportunity to respond.
According to court documents, the case is expected to require a trial lasting at least a week. A judge is expected to consider the future conduct and progression of the proceedings at a hearing within days. The High Court has not yet determined liability or the substantive claims brought by either party.
Shayan is represented by Spencer Williams and Mughal. The television channel is represented by Hemingways Solicitors. The station filed a defense and disputes Shayan’s claim.
A lawyer for the TV station said: “I can confirm that the legal process continues at the High Court. In the circumstances, it would not be appropriate to comment further. When the lawsuit has concluded, we will be happy to confirm the outcome for you.”
Shayan’s lawyer said: “As the matter is before the High Court, we cannot comment further but we are confident that justice will prevail.”
