- Legal notice also served to “The Truth Always Prevails” publishers Penguin Books in Haryana, India and Liberty Books in Karachi
- The book accuses the former president of orchestrating the suicide blast at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad in October 2008
Former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has served a legal notice to Hashoo Group Chairman Sadruddin Hashwani, the author of The Truth Always Prevails, for wilfully publishing a “false, derogatory and vexatious publication full of blatant lies” to malign his reputation.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman also served the notice to the book’s publishers, namely Penguin Books in Haryana, India and Liberty Books in Karachi.
Zardari’s Spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said in a statement that the legal notice was drafted by Supreme Court of Pakistan senior advocate Senator Farooq H Naek on behalf of Zardari.
“The Truth Always Prevails” was launched on Sunday in Islamabad and its excerpts have already been published in a number of media outlets.
The author held the former president responsible for the devastating suicide blast at his hotel, Marriot, in Islamabad in October 2008.
The notice said that the cumulative direct effect of the distortions in the book is to tarnish Zardari’s reputation and negate all his contributions to the State and society of Pakistan. The book is a brainwave of an irresponsible person full of malice aimed at not only tarnishing the image of Zardari but also of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and its workers, states the legal notice drafted by Naek.
Zardari believes in complete freedom of speech as guaranteed in Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan, states the legal notice, adding that the statements made in the book were without proper investigation and verification and were not made in the spirit of freedom of expression but were made irresponsibly and with ulterior motive.
The notice adds that Zardari is entitled for Rs500 million in damages for loss of reputation and another Rs500 million for mental agony and torture.
Zardari’s spokesperson said that the notice further asks the author and publishers to immediately withdraw the book from stores, end the defamation campaign and give a written assurance within 14 days to this effect.
Naek has warned that if the demands made were not complied with within fourteen (14) days, Zardari would be entitled to seek further monetary damages and equitable relief.
“In the event you fail to meet this demand, please be advised that our client has asked us to communicate to you that he will pursue all available legal remedies, including seeking monetary damages to initiate criminal proceedings under the law,” the notice states.
The former president has decided to donate the receipts from damages for defamation to charity, Babar said.
Babar said that the notice places Zardari’s achievements in juxtaposition and that the book was no more than déjà vu and part of the decades old smear campaign against PPP and its leaders.
The notice highlights Zardari’s contributions to the restoration of democracy in the country and draws attention to the victimisation bu anti-democratic forces of the former president as well as other PPP leaders, including former PPP chairperson and twice elected Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto and PPP’s founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who was judicially executed by military dictator Ziaul Haq.
TRUTH ALWAYS PREVAILS LAUNCHED:
“The Truth Always Prevails – a memoir of the life of one of Pakistan’s most prominent businessman Sadruddin Hashwani” – was launched Sunday at a grand ceremony held in a local hotel in Islamabad.
The book is a self-narrated account of personal and entrepreneurial experiences by one of the most successful businessmen of Pakistan with a global footprint.
The book highlights the eventful life of the struggles of an entrepreneur and is also an account of Pakistan through economic and evolutionary highs and lows.
The book narrates Hashwani’s rise to become the Cotton King of Pakistan, first-hand account of economic suffering at the hands of nationalisation, the birth of hospitality industry in Pakistan and the challenge of policy instability.
The book is as a historical account of the story of Pakistan as well as of a Pakistani entrepreneur realising the Pakistani Dream.
Speaking at the launch, Chief Guest General ® Jahangir Karamat wished the author luck and said, “Everything is there in the book – politics, military-civil relations, and of course the business world laid bare.”
A thief is a thief, what does he want, compliments for looting.
Libelous? You are a thief, a murderer and a known criminal. What libelous? Its nothing but the truth. Remember that jail cell you were in?
whatever he is or by which means he accomplished this huge wealth, did anyone have any proof against him???
Three guesses as to what has been happening to proofs and witnesses. Even the two convictions he has had were abroad where intimidation does not work and perjury is punished. Switzerland convicted him but Justice Qayum withdrew government's case. In Surrey Palace case he was convicted. Perjured himself with fake medical certificates.
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