The Truth Always Prevails: PPP threatens to file suit against author

Notice sent to Hashwani seeks Rs1 billion in damages for loss of reputation and mental agony to Zardari

ISLAMABAD:

Former president Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday served a legal notice on Sadruddin Hashwani, the chairman of Hashoo Group and author of ‘The Truth Always Prevails’  as well as the publishers for what the notice says willfully publishing a “false, derogatory and vexatious publication full of blatant lies” to damage his reputation.

In a statement, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the legal notice was drafted by Senator Farooq H Naek, senior advocate of the Supreme Court, on behalf of Zardari and served not only to the author but also to the publishers, the Penguin Books, Haryana, India, and Liberty Books, Karachi.



Hashwani owns Pakistan’s leading chain of hotels. His book was launched on Sunday in Islamabad though its excerpts have already been published in a number of media outlets. In the book, Hashwani held the former president responsible for the October 2008 devastating suicide blast at his hotel Marriott in Islamabad. The book describes itself as “the memoir of one of Pakistan’s most prominent businessmen”.

“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,” says the notice.

It further says that Zardari believes in complete freedom of speech as guaranteed in Article 19 of the Constitution. However, the statements made in the book without undertaking proper investigation or verification were not in the spirit of freedom of expression but were made irresponsibly and with ulterior motive, it adds.

Zardari is entitled to Rs500 million in damages for loss of reputation and another Rs500 million for mental agony and torture, the notice says. It further asks the author and the publishers to immediately withdraw the book from book stores, end the defamation campaign and give a written assurance within 14 days to this effect.

Senator Naek warned that if the demands made were not complied with, 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 states.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2014.