LAHORE: PML-N president and opposition leader in National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif has served a legal notice on British newspaper The Mail on Sunday, Mail Online and its journalist David Rose for publishing a ‘politically-motivated’ story against him and his family members.

However, a one-page legal notice shared with the media does not show as to what action Mr Sharif sought to be taken by the British newspaper like an apology, contradiction of the ‘fake’ news or a warning of moving a court of law for damages in case of its failure. Shahbaz Sharif’s legal counsel Attaullah Tarar did not respond to Dawn’s query in this regard.

In a quick response to Mr Sharif’s legal notice, journalist Rose said in a tweet: “I’m only going to make one comment on Shahbaz Sharif’s recent statements. He complains the earthquake was in 2005, before he became CM. But according to evidence already aired in a Pakistani court, the alleged thefts from the quake relief fund were in 2009 and 2011. Refutation?”

According to the legal notice which was also posted by the former chief minister on his Twitter page, it said the article was “gravely defamatory” of Shahbaz Sharif, including false allegations that he misappropriated UK tax-payers’ money in the form of DFID aid intended for the victims of the devastating 2005 earthquake in Pakistan. Mr Sharif denied these allegations in the strongest possible terms, it added.

It said a ‘formal legal complaint’ was issued on Friday against the news outlets and journalist Rose for the “politically motivated” story.

“I am utterly appalled by these allegations. It is disgusting for The Mail to claim that I stole money from a fund for earthquake victims. Clearly were there any evidence in support of this, or any of the other allegations contained in the article against me, then I would have been arrested and charged. This appears to be yet another politically motivated campaign against me and my family by the current government of Pakistan, which, according to the article, granted the journalist exclusive access to some of the results of a high-level probe ordered by Prime Minister Imran Khan including a confidential investigation report and highly unusually access to interview key witnesses held on remand in jail,” it said.

Mr Sharif said at no stage were the allegations properly put to him in advance of publication. “Had they been, I would have pointed out - among other matters - that at the time of the earthquake in 2005, I was not even in Pakistan but living in exile in the UK. I value my professional and personal reputation very high and will do all that is necessary to clear my name of these terrible allegations, and will pursue this claim through the courts of England and Wales, if that is what is required,” he said.

The notice is issued through London-based legal firm Carter-Ruck Solicitors and Mr Sharif is being represented by Alasdair Pepper, Antonia Foster and Victoria Anderson.

The Mail’s story alleged that Shahbaz Sharif, during his tenure as Punjab chief minister, had embezzled the UK grant for relief activities after the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2019