Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari sends defamation notice to Abida Hussain

ISLAMABAD: Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari, daughter of Benazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari, has served a legal notice to Syeda Abida Husain for levelling false, unsubstantiated and tendentious allegations against former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in her book, titled, “Special Star- Benazir Bhutto’s Story”. The notice was served through senior Advocate of the Supreme Court and former federal Law Minister Senator Farooq H Naek.

According to details, notices have also been sent by Senator Naek to Oxford University Press Managing Director Ameena Saiyid and Oxford University Press Regional Sales Director South Salma Adil.

The notice read, “Along with the author of the book, its printer and publisher, as well as, its promoter in Pakistan (Oxford University Press) who has circulated the defamatory book via its outlets without checking and confirming the contents therein, are also liable for defamation.”

It further said, “That you have irresponsibly and maliciously made, printed and published the aforesaid statements to provoke sentiments against Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and her party, and to politically malign and victimise the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

“That in view of the above, our client is entitled to damages for mental torture, harassment, agony, and humiliation which she, the workers and supporters of PPP have suffered and are undergoing at present because of wrongful acts on your part individually and jointly,” the notice read.

It merits mention here that the notice also mentions that the client (Bakhtawar) was entitled to Rs500 in damages on account of ‘loss of reputation’ and another Rs500 million for ‘mental agony, torture and physical harassment’.