The South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) has sent defamation notices to the management of a private TV channel, anchor Mehr Bukhari and analyst Zaid Hamid over malicious accusations made in a TV talk show.
Sent by SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam and SAFMA Punjab President Anjum Rashid through advocate Abid Hasan Minto, the legal notices under Section 8 of Defamation Ordinance 2002 quoted the “defamatory and inflammatory remarks” Zaid Hamid made in the programme hosted by Mehr Bukhari aired on August 16 and repeated on August 17 and 18. The remarks have caused resentment among leading media persons and civil society. SAFMA branches in other provinces will also issue libel notices.
The notices sought “an unequivocal apology” from the TV management and anchor Mehr Bukhari, and asked the channel to “invite Hamid back to the show in which the aforesaid apology and categorical denial is required to be issued, and allow him the opportunity to advance his apology”.