Senior Vice President of the United Kingdom Chapter of the Pakistani Muslim League Nawaz (“PML-N”), Nasir Mehmood, succeeds in libel claim against New Vision TV Limited (NVTV)

NVTV has apologised to Nasir Mehmood, also known as Nasir Mehmood Butt, the senior vice President of the United Kingdom chapter of the PML-N party, for a series of highly defamatory allegations made during the course of broadcasts in July 2019. NVTV owns the exclusive rights to broadcast ARY News, an Urdu language news and current affairs channel based in Pakistan, in the United Kingdom and the European Union.

On 6 July 2019, NVTV broadcast a number of programmes in which it was alleged that Mr Butt was a multiple murderer, an organised criminal and important member of a drugs cartel who had fled from justice in Pakistan. The allegation that Mr Butt was an organised criminal was further repeated on 7th July 2019, during the course of the “Sawal Yeh Hai” programme, hosted by Maria Memon.

Finally, on 14th July 2019, NVTV broadcast a programme including comments from the Pakistani Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Ali Muhammad Khan, in which it was alleged that Mr Butt had fled from justice in Pakistan.

NVTV has now accepted that Mr Butt is not a multiple murderer, organised criminal, or member of a drugs cartel, and that he has not fled from justice in Pakistan.  

NVTV has unconditionally apologised for the significant distress, upset and embarrassment that the broadcasts caused Mr Butt and has, further, agreed to pay Mr Butt substantial damages on account of the damage caused to his reputation, as well as his legal costs.

David Lemer continues to act for Mr Butt, instructed by Ushrat Sultana of Stone White Solicitors.

Access the apology in English here and in Urdu here.