Finance minister sends legal notice to Bol News

Asks for Rs1b in damages due to malicious content aired on Dr Shahid Masood’s show

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has sent Rs1 billion legal notices through his legal counsel to both Bol News and anchor Dr Shahid Masood for airing and anchoring a malicious programme to defame him.

According to the finance ministry anchor Dr Shahid Masood hosted a programme titled ‘Live with Dr Shahid Masood’ on January 24 2017 at 08.05 pm on Bol News and passed conjecture, libelous and defamatory statements to damage the finance minister’s personality and character.



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 the finance minister.

In response to this slanderous and defamatory programme, Dar has decided to take legal action against the anchor who is known for fabrication and foul mouthing as well as the TV channel for airing and repeat airing of the said broadcast.

The legal notice sent to the channel and anchor under Section 8 of the Defamation Ordinance, 2002 demands publishing of a comprehensive apology and retraction as well as payment of Rs1 billion as damages to the finance minister on account of the defamatory broadcast. Non-compliance to this would result into civil and criminal proceeding against the Bol News and Dr Shahid Masood.



The finance minister has also made a complaint to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) council of complaints requesting the authority to take appropriate legal and necessary action against Labbaik Private (Ltd) and Bol News.