Zardari serves Rs1 billion legal notice to Sadruddin Hashwani, publishers
PPP spokesperson claims Hashwani's book is a false and vexatious publication to damage Zardari's reputation
ISLAMABAD:
Former president Asif Ali Zardari has served a legal notice to Sadruddin Hashwani, Chairman Hashoo Group and author of The Truth Always Prevails, for willfully publishing a “false, derogatory and vexatious publication full of blatant lies” to damage his reputation.
The Pakistan Peoples Party chairman also served the notice to publishers of the book, Penguin Books in Haryana India and Liberty Books in Karachi.
PPP spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said in a statement that the legal notice was drafted by Senator Farooq H Naek, senior advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, on behalf of Zardari.
The Truth Always Prevails was launched on Sunday in Islamabad and its excerpts have already been published in a number of media outlets.
The author held the former president responsible for the devastating suicide blast at his hotel, Marriot, in Islamabad in October 2008.
“The cumulative direct effect of the distortions in the book is to tarnish the reputation of Asif Ali Zardari and negate all his contributions to the state and society of Pakistan. The book is a brain-wave of an irresponsible person full of malice aimed at not only tarnishing the image of Zardari but also of the PPP and its workers,” stated the legal notice drafted by Naek.
The notice argued that Zardari believes in complete freedom of speech as guaranteed in Article 19 of the Constitution; however, the statements made in the book without proper investigation and verification were irresponsible and made with an ulterior motive.
The notice adds that the PPP chairman is entitled to Rs500 million in damages for loss of reputation and another Rs500 million for mental agony and torture.
The spokesperson said that the notice further asks the author and publishers to immediately withdraw the book from book stores, end the defamation campaign and give a written assurance within 14 days to this effect.
The counsel also warned that if the demands made were not complied with within 14 days, Zardari would be entitled to seek further monetary damages and equitable relief.
“In the event you fail to meet this demand, please be advised that our client has asked us to communicate to you that he will pursue all available legal remedies, including seeking monetary damages to initiate criminal proceedings under the law," it stated.
“The former president has decided to donate the receipts from damages for defamation to charity,” Babar said.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari has served a legal notice to Sadruddin Hashwani, Chairman Hashoo Group and author of The Truth Always Prevails, for willfully publishing a “false, derogatory and vexatious publication full of blatant lies” to damage his reputation.
The Pakistan Peoples Party chairman also served the notice to publishers of the book, Penguin Books in Haryana India and Liberty Books in Karachi.
PPP spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said in a statement that the legal notice was drafted by Senator Farooq H Naek, senior advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, on behalf of Zardari.
The Truth Always Prevails was launched on Sunday in Islamabad and its excerpts have already been published in a number of media outlets.
The author held the former president responsible for the devastating suicide blast at his hotel, Marriot, in Islamabad in October 2008.
“The cumulative direct effect of the distortions in the book is to tarnish the reputation of Asif Ali Zardari and negate all his contributions to the state and society of Pakistan. The book is a brain-wave of an irresponsible person full of malice aimed at not only tarnishing the image of Zardari but also of the PPP and its workers,” stated the legal notice drafted by Naek.
The notice argued that Zardari believes in complete freedom of speech as guaranteed in Article 19 of the Constitution; however, the statements made in the book without proper investigation and verification were irresponsible and made with an ulterior motive.
The notice adds that the PPP chairman is entitled to Rs500 million in damages for loss of reputation and another Rs500 million for mental agony and torture.
The spokesperson said that the notice further asks the author and publishers to immediately withdraw the book from book stores, end the defamation campaign and give a written assurance within 14 days to this effect.
The counsel also warned that if the demands made were not complied with within 14 days, Zardari would be entitled to seek further monetary damages and equitable relief.
“In the event you fail to meet this demand, please be advised that our client has asked us to communicate to you that he will pursue all available legal remedies, including seeking monetary damages to initiate criminal proceedings under the law," it stated.
“The former president has decided to donate the receipts from damages for defamation to charity,” Babar said.