LONDON: British-Pakistani PTI activist Shayan Ali’s defamation claim against a private broadcaster – seeking almost £100,000 in damages – is progressing to trial at the High Court in London, where a key hearing is expected to take place within days, according to court records.
The case relates to the private television broadcast broadcast on 2 April 2022, which claimed 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 arrests were made and Shayan was not charged in connection with the alleged incident.
Shayan subsequently complained to Ofcom, the UK’s broadcasting regulator. Ofcom ruled in favor of Shayan, finding that the private channel had failed to take reasonable care to ensure that material facts were not presented, ignored or omitted in a way that was unfair to him.
The regulator also found that the TV had not demonstrated that it gave Shayan a timely and adequate opportunity to respond to the serious allegation that he had attempted to attack Nawaz and had injured a security guard. Ofcom concluded that Shayan had been unfairly treated in the program when it aired.
The TV report claimed that Nawaz was leaving the temporary headquarters of the Pakistan Muslim League-N near Hyde Park when Shayan, who it claimed was already present as part of a plan, misbehaved and tried to approach him.
The report claimed 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 an injury. It further reported that Nawaz was rushed into his vehicle while the injured security guard was taken to the hospital.
Shayan claims the broadcast presented the allegations as established facts and portrayed him as a criminal, causing serious damage to his reputation among viewers in Britain, Pakistan and elsewhere. He claims that the TV broadcast serious and defamatory allegations without giving him a proper 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 settlement and course of the case at a court hearing in a few days. The High Court has not yet ruled on liability or the substantive claims made by either party.
Shayan is repped by Spencer Williams and Mughal. The TV channel is represented by Hemingway’s Solicitors. The broadcaster has filed a defense contesting Shayan’s claims.
A lawyer for the broadcaster said: “I can confirm that the trial is continuing in the High Court. In the circumstances it would be inappropriate to comment further. Once the claim is concluded we will be happy to confirm the outcome for you.”
Shayan’s lawyer said: “As the case is before the High Court, we cannot comment further but are confident that justice will prevail.”
