ARY Network Limited has agreed to pay £275, 000 to Nishat Group Chairman Mian Mohammad Mansha in damages after the news channel levelled false allegations of money laundering against the leading Pakistani businessman in 2015.
According to a public notice issued by UK-based law firm Carter-Ruck, any false allegations made against the Manshas’ or their businesses in the future by any media outlet will result in appropriate action being taken.
In November 2015, ARY during its TV programme ‘Kab Tak’ accused Mian Mansha of money laundering in relation to the acquisition of the St. James Hotel and Club Limited. Mansha challenged the fake news in the high court of London in 2016.
In June, Justice Nicklin of London’s High Court approved a consent order resolving the matter on terms that the media outlet agrees to pay for the substantial damages of £ 75,000 along with legal costs of £200,000.
During the proceedings in 2016, Mian Mansha continuously denied all the allegations, terming them as ‘baseless, devoid of any merit and foundation’. Having said that, the media outlet failed to provide any evidence to support the allegations, despite continuous requests to do so during the time.
In 2017, the media house entered into creditors’ voluntary liquidation assigning the defence of the proceedings to the appointed liquidator. Following this, the UK media regulator, Ofcom revoked six Ofcom licences held by ARY Network due to breaches of the licence terms.
After the decision of Justice Nicklin, the media house agreed to pay the substantial sum to Mian Mansha, thus resolving the libel case.