London: A UK High Court judge has accepted that PMLN UK Vice President Nasir Butt was targeted by the Pakistani media and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in 2019 because he supported former prime minister Nawaz. were loyal to Sharif – later secretly. Judge Arshad Malik, who produced the film, admitted that he was blackmailed into convicting Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference and that he had no choice but to convict Nawaz Sharif to save his life.
The Master of the Queen’s Bench Division of the Royal Courts of Justice John Marshall Anthony Dignall said this while delivering his judgment in favor of Nasir Butt’s defamation claim against a private Pakistani news television station that followed the release of Judge Arshad Malik. Allegations were made against Mr Butt. Video of Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
Judge John Marshall Anthony Dagnall said that it is clear that Nasir Butt was targeted by the then establishment and the PTI government and was branded a murderer, criminal and drug dealer by then Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan. had said The government, only because Nasir Butt had filmed former accountability judge Arshad Malik confessing in a secretly recorded video that he was blackmailed and to deliver a guilty verdict against Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia case. Pressure was applied.
On December 24, 2018, Accountability Court Judge Arshad Malik acquitted Nawaz Sharif in the flagship reference and sentenced him to 7 years in prison in the Al-Azizia reference.
Nasir Butt came under fire from the Pakistani media and the then government of Imran Khan when he filmed the judge and gave it to Maryam Nawaz before leaving for London. The PTI government launched a major crackdown on Mr. Butt when Maryam Nawaz addressed an explosive press conference in Lahore on July 6, 2019 and revealed that the accountability judge had contacted Nasir Butt and told him that he Feeling “guilt” and having “nightmares”. announced the “unfair” verdict against Nawaz Sharif and then played a video showing Nasir Butt and the judge talking to each other.
Nasir Butt launched defamation proceedings against the private news channel in the UK High Court over two broadcasts on 6 July 2019 and 23 August 2019. During the first broadcast, Firdous Ashiq Awan called Nasir Butt a “notorious murderer”, “a member of the drug trade”. Network”; and “Fugitive in Murder Case”.
On 23 August 2019, during the program, three prominent and well-known anchors repeated the murder allegations against Nasir Butt and further alleged that Nawaz Sharif had helped them prevent Nasir Butt from being convicted in the murder case and that he had taken Maryam Nawaz Sharif shopping. They used to take it. When she was in Jeddah with her father during the exile. Nasir Butt had filed a case against the channel, alleging that Firdous Ashiq Awan and the anchors lied about him, defamed him and spread propaganda against him. The judge accepted the evidence presented by Nasir Butt that he was unfairly attacked by the TV anchors and the minister.
During the last two-and-a-half years of these proceedings, the court issued several orders against the channel for its failure to comply and defend the claim. The channel was also ordered to pay costs on four separate occasions before the final hearing.
In a final hearing to determine the damages award for Nasir Butt in his claim against the channel, the judge ruled in favor of Nasir Butt’s defamation claim, awarding him substantial damages – Nasir Butt had issued a claim for £100,000. The judge also awarded the costs of his lawyers and gave credence to Nasir Butt’s claim that the media and the government of the day had played witchcraft only because it exposed a grave injustice against Nawaz Sharif. was brought forward. The former prime minister was jailed and tortured.
Master Dagnall said he accepted there was no evidence that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif prevented further investigation and prosecution of Nasir Butt in connection with a murder in Rawalpindi in the mid-90s.
The judge said that the TV channel did not defend the allegations and therefore accepted that there was no truth in the allegations made after the release of the video.
The judge also said that the allegations of crimes against Nasir Butt had caused him distress and hardship, his family had been attacked in London and Nasir Butt had suffered a lot as a result, so he was at a high level. Deserve compensation.
The channel had pleaded with the court that its accusations aired on two shows in the UK were not seen by many people, so Nasir Butt should not be given the award he is seeking, but the judge said the lies spread by the media. The allegations have had an impact. So much for Nasir Butt and his family
Master Dagnall referred to the earlier judgment of the Honorable Mr. Justice Saini in April this year when the judge delivered a judgment in favor of Nasir Butt. Mr. Justice Saini also granted an injunction in April 2022 restraining the channel from directly or indirectly repeating the allegations, or quoting Nasir Butt through its employees, servants or agents. Any statement published or implied to be published or suggested that he was “a murderer and member of an illegal drug marketing network who left Pakistan to avoid prosecution for criminal offences”. And Nasir Butt’s “connections with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif prevented the claimant from being further investigated and prosecuted for the alleged murder.”
After the verdict, the channel began negotiating an out-of-court settlement of the case to pay damages to Nasir Butt, but the talks broke down. Nasir Butt’s lawyers held a trial instead of a trial, where the judge listened to both sides’ lawyers, read all the evidence presented, and then ruled in Nasir Butt’s favor.
Master Dagnall referred to Nasir Butt’s evidence which claimed that the channel told Nasir Butt the PMLN leadership and senior members of the Sharif family to get Nasir Butt to drop the case or settle on his own terms. force on Master Dagnall said it was a disturbing factor.
The judge said he accepted the evidence that Nasir Butt’s brother was killed by a gang in Pakistan in 1996 and that Nasir Butt had to flee to Britain. He said that at that time three murderers of Nasir Butt’s brother were killed but at that time Nasir Butt was in Britain. “I accept that the killing was not his responsibility,” the judge said.
The judge said: “I accept that in 2014 the claimant (Mr Butt) returned to Pakistan and was tried and acquitted of all charges” and that there was no evidence that Nawaz Sharif had a role.
Master said that Nasir Butt had a prominent role in the British Pakistani community but was subjected to humiliation, ostracism and abuse, and as a result of these serious allegations and abuse, he was severely disadvantaged in the community by his rivals.
The judge said that he accepted the definition of meaning and that it was clear that the words spoken were seriously damaging to Nasir Butt’s reputation.
Nasir Butt was represented by Stonewhite Solicitors and Councilor David Lamer of Doughty Street Chambers. The private TV company was represented by Farani Taylor Solicitors.
