Observer Report
Islamabad
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar on Sunday dismissed Pakistan Muslim League-N President Shahbaz Sharif’s claim of initiating legal action against British publication Daily Mail.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said Shahbaz has only filed a complaint with the publication and no case has been registered over the story. Akbar said the former Punjab chief minister has also not denied the allegations against him in the July 14 article authored by journalist David Rose. “No allegations were denied in the letter sent by Shahbaz’s counsel; all it said was that the story was not in public interest,” he said.
Akbar also rubbished Shahbaz’s assertion of taking the matter to a London court. “I challenge Shahbaz Sharif to serve me a legal notice. I can say with all confidence that he will never take this matter to a court in the United Kingdom,” he said.
“Shahbaz has promised to sue Daily Mail and, if he does, I am ready to appear with all necessary evidence.” The controversy was initiated on July 14 when the Daily Mail published a story on alleged misuse of UK aid money during Shahbaz’s tenure as Punjab chief minister.
