UK court reviews defamation claim linked to Nawaz Sharif incident

A defamation lawsuit filed by British-Pakistani PTI activist Shayan Ali against a private television channel is moving closer to a full trial at the High Court in London. The case, in which Shayan is seeking nearly £100,000 in damages, centers on allegations aired in a television report broadcast in April 2022.

LONDON: A defamation lawsuit filed by British-Pakistani PTI activist Shayan Ali against a private television channel is moving closer to a full trial at the High Court in London. The case, in which Shayan is seeking nearly £100,000 in damages, centers on allegations aired in a television report broadcast in April 2022.

The disputed report claimed that Shayan Ali attempted to attack former prime minister Nawaz Sharif outside the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) office near Hyde Park in London. According to the broadcast, Shayan allegedly threw a mobile phone towards Nawaz Sharif striking a security guard and causing an injury during the incident.

Shayan Ali has consistently denied the allegations. He maintains that he neither attacked Nawaz Sharif nor threw his mobile phone. According to his account, he was present outside the PML-N office solely to record video footage when the incident took place. He also points out that he was never arrested or charged by authorities in connection with the matter.

Following the broadcast, Shayan filed a complaint with Ofcom, the United Kingdom’s broadcasting regulator. Ofcom later ruled in his favour, concluding that the television channel had failed to exercise reasonable care in presenting the allegations. The regulator found that important facts were not handled fairly and that Shayan was not given a timely and appropriate opportunity to respond to the serious accusations made against him.

The television report alleged that Shayan had approached Nawaz Sharif aggressively and that security personnel intervened to stop him. It further claimed that a mobile phone thrown during the confrontation injured a security guard, who was subsequently taken to hospital. Shayan argues that these allegations were presented as established facts rather than claims damaging his reputation among audiences in the United Kingdom, Pakistan, and beyond.

Court records indicate that the case is expected to proceed to a trial lasting at least one week. A judge is scheduled to review the future management and progression of the proceedings during an upcoming hearing.

Shayan Ali is represented by Spencer Williams and Mughal, while the television broadcaster is represented by Hemingways Solicitors. The channel has filed a defence and disputes the claim. The High Court has not yet ruled on liability or the substantive issues raised by either party, and the legal proceedings remain ongoing.