| Case ID |
e10c22f4-7f26-4107-95b0-6a9a74354b97 |
| Body |
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| Case Number |
High Court Appeal No. 324 of 2001 |
| Decision Date |
May 04, 2007 |
| Hearing Date |
Mar 30, 2007 |
| Decision |
The appeal was dismissed on the grounds that the publication of the news item was based on a First Information Report (F.I.R.) which was a public document. The court found that the news item served the public interest by informing the community about potential illegal activities related to human trafficking. The publication did not amount to defamation as it was made in good faith and was a fair comment on a matter of public interest. The appellant's claims for damages were rejected since no malice was established against the respondents, and the information published was already known to the public. |
| Summary |
In the case of Hakim Ali versus Messrs Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Ltd., the Sindh High Court addressed the issue of defamation concerning a news report that implicated the petitioner, Hakim Ali, in illegal immigration activities. The report stemmed from a First Information Report lodged against him, leading to claims of reputational damage. The court ruled that the publication was justified as it was based on a public document and served a public purpose, ultimately dismissing the appeal and affirming the importance of responsible journalism in reporting matters of public interest. This case underscores the delicate balance between defamation claims and the freedom of the press, especially when reporting on issues that affect the community at large. |
| Court |
Sindh High Court
|
| Entities Involved |
Messrs Diamond Estate (Pvt.) Limited
|
| Judges |
MUHAMMAD AFZAL SOOMRO,
RAHMAT HUSSAIN JAFFERI
|
| Lawyers |
Abid S. Zuberi,
Slalah-ud-Din Ahmed
|
| Petitioners |
HAKIM ALI
|
| Respondents |
4 others,
Chief Executive,
Messrs PAKISTAN HERALD PUBLICATIONS (PVT.) LTD.
|
| Citations |
2007 SLD 2961,
2007 PLD 415
|
| Other Citations |
Wolston v. Reader's Digest Association, Inc.,
Mehmood Ali v. Network Television Marketing (Pvt.) Limited PLD 2005 Kar. 399,
Abdul Ghafoor v. Muhammad Hasan SBLR 2006 SC 1616,
Muhammad Sharif v. Nawab Din PLD 1957 Lah. 283,
Muhammad Ansar-ul-Islam v. Karachi Stock Exchange Limited, Kar. PLD 1975 Kar. 556,
Altaf Gauhar v. Wajid Shamsul Hasan PLD 1981 Kar. 515,
Majid Nazami v. Muhammad Rashid PLD 1996 Lah. 410,
Moosa v. Muhammad PLD 1968 SC 25,
Muhammad Rashid v. Majid Nizami PLD 2002 SC 514,
Bashir Ahmed v. Ahmad-ul-Haq Siddiqui 1985 SCMR 123,
State of Bihar v. Sir Kameshwar Singh AIR 1952 SC 252,
Hamabai Framjee v. Secretary of State for India AIR 1914 PC 20
|
| Laws Involved |
Passports Act, 1974,
Criminal Procedure Code, 1898,
Qanun-e-Shahadat, 1984
|
| Sections |
6(1)(g),
6(1)(h),
154,
49,
85
|