As one of the first few social media defamation and slander cases in the UK, it comes as a significant victory for two reporters, who had been targeted in a smear campaign via Whatsapp, Twitter and other social media platforms.
A false press release circulating social media accused the journalist brothers of assault, harassment, intimidation and corruption, amongst other crimes.
Murtaza and Mubtaja Ali Shah, London correspondents for Pakistani news channels Geo News and Hum News, respectively, were defamed by solicitor Ajaz Ahmed, ruled Mrs Justice Collins Rice.
The lawsuit was opened after a 2019 press conference in Central London was held by Ajaz Ahmed, solicitor and director of Pure Legal Solicitors in Merseyside, and Raja Usman Arshad regarding the 2016 murder of a British-Pakistani barrister, Fahad Malik.
Raja Usman Arshad is the son of Raja Arshad, who has been convicted for the murder of barrister Fahad Malik in Islamabad, had held a press conference for his father who was detained in Adiala Jail at the time.
Dozens of protestors had stormed the press conference and accused Ajaz Ahmed, Raja Usman Arshad and Pure Legal Solicitors of covering up the murder of Fahad Malik.
Following the press conference, Ahmed and Arshad spread a fake press release in both English and Urdu, containing defamatory and false allegations against brothers Murtaza and Mujtaba. The siblings later said in court that their lives had been put ‘at risk’ as a result of these false allegations.
Proceedings began at the Royal Court of Justice in January 2020. The Shah brothers were initially represented by Counsel William Bennett KC, who represented Prince Harry in his suit against the Mail on Sunday in 2021. The case was won thereafter by Counsel David Lemer.
The judge stated that she was ‘satisfied that the Claimants’ case is properly pleaded.’
Following the trial, the claimants stated: “This case highlights the harassment, false allegations and threats that journalists face on a daily basis simply for doing their job. Recent events globally have highlighted the personal risk that journalists place themselves in whilst they play a critical role in promoting democracy by maintaining the free flow of information.”
