Shehbaz-Daily Mail defamation case to go to court

A defamation case between Shahbaz Sharif, President of the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and publishers of the Daily Mail and Mail Online newspapers were set to proceed for a trial after both parties failed to engage to resolve the case and traded online allegation.

The Daily Mail has not issued a public comment since the publication of its story by journalist David Rose, alleging that Sharif and his family were involved in money-laundering in the UK, The News International reported on Monday.

The tabloid alleged that Sharif and his family stole British taxpayers' money provided by the Department for International Department (DFID) to Pakistan's Earthquake Relief and Reconstruction Authority (Erra) set up to help the victims of the 2005 earthquake.

But the DFID has refuted the claims. 

Sharif has claimed in a tweet that the British news publisher had failed to respond to his legal notice sent prior citing defamation and libel. 

A source in the Daily Mail, when contacted, said that the publication has received two letters from Sharif's lawyers and that its advocates were preparing a response.

Speaking to The News International, Rose defended his story and said the Mail group has already responded to Sharif's letter. 

"We responded to Shahbaz's lawyers several days ago. Perhaps they have forgotten to tell him? We reject any suggestion that our story was, as some have claimed, forged or fabricated." IANS