Shehbaz files case against British publication, journalist over 'politically motivated' article

• PML-N president claims the story was published on the advice of Imran Khan.
• Shehbaz says publication of article aimed to damage his dignity and is tantamount to character assassination.
• Imran Khan has failed to deliver and his government is trying to bring a bad name to Pakistan: PML-N president.

(Karachi) Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif has filed a case against The Mail and online news site Mail Online in London High Court over publishing ‘fabricated’ article against him, media reported on Thursday.

Speaking to media persons, Shehbaz Sharif said Daily Mail Online and the journalist associated with it David Rose published ‘fabricated’ and ‘fake’ news against him. The PML-N president claimed the story was published on the advice of Imran Khan.

He said the publication of the article aimed to damage his dignity and is tantamount to character assassination.

He added, “We approached the court after the media outlet failed to answer our queries.” He remarked, “All facts will come to light as we will produce each and every evidence in the court to prove innocence.”

He maintained, “Imran Khan is involved in leveling baseless allegations against his opponents and the report of Transparency International is evidence in this regard.”

He said Imran Khan has failed to deliver and his government is trying to bring a bad name to Pakistan. “The nefarious scheme of Imran Niazi will meet its logical end,” he remarked.

Shehbaz Sharif hoped he will get justice from the London Court.

In July 2019, the story published in Daily Mail Online claimed that Sharif, the former chief minister of Punjab, had embezzled funds provided by UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) for the rehabilitation of the 2005 earthquake.

It quoted Assets Recovery Unit Chief Shahzad Akbar and a few other individuals — none of whom were in an official position.

The story was quickly refuted by the PML-N and the party had insisted that it was published “on the behest of Prime Minister Imran Khan”. It was also rejected by DFID that said the body’s “robust systems protected UK taxpayers from fraud”.

Later, Shehbaz Sharif sent a legal notice to British publication and its journalist David Rose, for leveling allegations against him in the article.