ISLAMABAD, June 13 (APP): The Additional District and Sessions
Judge Islamabad-West has summoned ARY Chief Executive Officer Salman Iqbal, anchors Arshad Sharif and Assad Kharal on June 17 in the libel suit filed by the Finance Minister.
Aoording to a Finance Ministry spokesperson, taking strong
exception to the slanderous telecasts and publications against
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar by ARY News through its Programme
“News @ 3 with Maria Memon” aired on April 16, 2016, legal
notices were served on ARY Chief Executive Officer, Salman Iqbal and
anchors Arshad Sharif and Assad Kharal for airing libelous
content and alleging that the Finance Minister held a meeting with
Panamian Deputy Minister for Economy, Ivan Zarak in Washington,
without seeking any confirmation.
As per the legal notices, the respondents were called upon to publish apology in reputed Urdu and English dailies and also broadcast the same with prominence within 15 days of the legal notices.
In addition, each of them also had been asked to pay a sum of Rs one billion to the Finance Minister in damages failing which legal proceedings against them would be initiated.
The spokesperson, in a statement, said Panamian Deputy Minister Ivan Zarak had denied such a meeting was ever held with the Finance Minister.
Furthermore the Panamian Government also sent a message of apology to the Finance Minister over the incorrect statement given by their Deputy Minister, he added.
Now the honourable Additional District and Sessins Judge Islamabad-West, he said, had issued summons to the three respondents in the case for a hearing on June 17.
