PTI activist Shayan Ali's defamation case against TV heads to UK High Court trial

LONDON: British-Pakistani PTI activist Shayan Ali’s defamation claim against a private television — seeking nearly £100,000 in damages — is progressing towards trial at the High Court in London, with a key hearing expected to take place within a few days, according to court records.

The proceedings concern the private TV’s broadcast aired on April 2, 2022, which alleged that Shayan had attempted to attack former prime minister Nawaz Sharif outside the Pakistan Muslim League-N office near Hyde Park and had thrown a mobile telephone, which struck and injured a security guard.

Shayan has consistently denied the allegations. He maintains that he did not attack Nawaz, did not throw his telephone and was recording a video outside the PML-N office when the incident occurred. No arrest was made, and Shayan was not charged in connection with the alleged incident.

Shayan subsequently complained to Ofcom, the United Kingdom’s broadcasting regulator. Ofcom ruled in favour of Shayan and found that the private channel had failed to take reasonable care to ensure that material facts were not presented, disregarded or omitted in a manner that was unfair to him.

The regulator also found that the TV had not demonstrated that it provided Shayan with a timely and appropriate opportunity to respond to the serious allegation that he had attempted to attack Nawaz and had injured a security guard. Ofcom concluded that Shayan had been treated unfairly in the programme as broadcast.

The TV report alleged that Nawaz was leaving the temporary headquarters of the Pakistan Muslim League-N near Hyde Park when Shayan, who it claimed was already present as part of a plan, misbehaved and attempted to approach him.

The report alleged that when security guards tried to stop Shayan, he became aggressive and threw his telephone towards Nawaz, striking a security guard on the forehead and causing an injury. It further reported that Nawaz was rushed into his vehicle while the injured security guard was taken to the hospital.

Shayan argues that the broadcast presented the allegations as established facts and portrayed him as a criminal, causing serious damage to his reputation among viewers in the United Kingdom, Pakistan and elsewhere. He contends that the TV aired serious and defamatory allegations without providing him with a proper opportunity to respond.

According to court documents, the case is expected to require a trial lasting at least one week. A judge is expected to consider the future conduct and progression of the proceedings at a hearing in a few days. The High Court has not yet determined liability or the substantive claims made by either party.

Shayan is represented by Spencer Williams and Mughal. The TV channel is represented by Hemingways Solicitors. The broadcaster has filed a defence and disputes Shayan’s claim.

A lawyer for the TV channel said: “I can confirm that the legal proceedings are continuing in the High Court. In the circumstances, it would be inappropriate to comment any further. When the claim has concluded we would be happy to confirm the outcome to you.”

Shayan’s lawyer said: “As the matter is before the High Court, we cannot comment further but are confident that justice will prevail.”