MQM sends $10m defamation notice to NYT journalist

Dawn.com Published September 16, 2013

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) issued a 10-million-dollar defamation notice to The New York Times' former Islamabad bureau chief, Declan Walsh, and the editor, printer and publisher of the newspaper for allegedly causing disrepute to Altaf Hussain in a 'baseless' report published, according to the official website of the MQM.

The notice was served by MQM's counsel Barrister Farogh Naseem which stated that the baseless reporting on behalf of the NYT had caused damage to the repute of MQM chief Altaf Hussain.

The legal notice asked the New York Times newspaper editor, it's printer, publisher and journalist Declan Walsh to tender an un-conditional apology within seven days and warned of due legal action in case of failure to do so.

Pakistan

Pakistan expels NY Times reporter before elections

expatpaki

Sep 16, 2013 09:39am

It seems that now political parties are bent upon suing others for the sake of generating funds for their various questionable political activities. Political leaders have now stooped to this level. And when the country is openly criticized international media then all these political parties maintain silence. Bigots!

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Muhammad

Sep 16, 2013 09:42am

If they file in US court, they will be laughed out of the courtroom. There's this little thing called the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech, and the standard of proving defamation is too high to be met in a case like this. In fact that high standard was set in a case involving the New York Times (Google NYT v. Sullivan to learn more).

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Anon

Sep 16, 2013 10:00am

Are we to understand that they think Owen-Bennet Jones was right? Why isnt he in on the action?

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Rizwan Masood

Sep 16, 2013 10:40am

Defamation notice for writing the truth? Interesting. It is time MQM come out of its shell and accept reality. What they are, what they do and what they profess to do is hidden from no one. As very rightly pointed in the article it is "FEAR" that prevents people in Karachi from voicing their thoughts.

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Sep 16, 2013 10:41am

What a joke! Are they going to send defamation notices to every other person who says the truth!

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Faraz

Sep 16, 2013 10:56am

Whats wrong with the article which Delcan Walsh says? I don't find anything wrong with it.

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Arif

Sep 16, 2013 11:02am

For true information for public journalist should not worry , otherwise criminal will get strong.

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M. T. Ali

Sep 16, 2013 11:16am

The MQMshould also sue Canadian High Court, which has declared them a terrorist outfit. Time for MQM to shed use of violence, otherwise time is running out on them

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Masoud

Sep 16, 2013 11:33am

MQM has taken a good action. These journalist can go to any length to defame others.

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Anees

Sep 16, 2013 11:38am

Does he have a reputation?

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Khan

Sep 16, 2013 12:07pm

MQM has a long history of sending legal notices but it hardly ever take up case properly in the court of law.This also looks like another attempt of face saving.Party is fast loosing public support.Recent elections in which we all saw how this party filled up ballot boxes can not be taken as evidence of party popularity.The leadership of MQM will have to give up its militant wing if it wants to play a positive role in Pakistani politics.

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ZAHID

Sep 16, 2013 12:05pm

One of the most stupid notices ever. If you know anything about America, its law protects journalistic freedom of speech. this is symbolic notice which NYT will toss it in the garbage without even reading it let alone considering an apology. Farokh should know better than that. Can't believe Dawn actually put it on the headline.

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Ahmed Baig

Sep 16, 2013 12:54pm

What Mr. Declan Walsh wrote is the voice of all Pakistanis...Mr. Declan Walsh is a brave person who described the reality on grounds...

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Charshumbe

Sep 16, 2013 12:56pm

This is so very sad. Altaf himself causes his own disrepute by seeking to rule over people from a distance and having a huge double standard of behavior. He is no leader, he is a despot. It will be a good day when we are beyond him.

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faisal

Sep 16, 2013 01:03pm

Another drama by MQM.

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nadeem

Sep 16, 2013 02:14pm

Declan Walsh should be indebted to the God Almighty that he does not put up at Pakistan otherwise he would have been eliminated and Altaf Bhai would had been the first person to offer his condolence.

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Azhar

Sep 16, 2013 02:43pm

@nadeem: Very true. Same way he shed tears for Imran Farooq.

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gangadin

Sep 16, 2013 03:05pm

What damage was caused by the reporting?

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Arshad

Sep 16, 2013 03:18pm

I dont see any reason why Altaf Hussain should not feel perturbed over this expose, which is shared by hundred of thousands of people in Pakistan and abroad. Yet nobody dared to speak it out in Pakistan. Thanks to Declan Walsh for being true to the job he is doing.

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Patriot

Sep 16, 2013 03:30pm

We know M Declan Walsh has pulled the carpet from under the feet of Altaf Hussain. All we would like to wait for is when the British legal system will take its course. Karachi's case and future lies in the hands of Scotland Yard.

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Nasser

Sep 16, 2013 03:40pm

What Declan is doing is state the facts and add his own opinions. He is a seasoned and uncorrupt journalist who has the direct experience of having lived in corrupt Pakistan for a number of years before being asked to leave by the Pakistan Government. Declan has the support of the vast majority of Pakistanis who look forward to a new, just, and prosperous Pakistan. We need to get rid of our politicians who are corrupt to the core, bar a very few. May Allah give Declan fortitude to face all that is thrown at him; Ameen!

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Saleemi

Sep 16, 2013 03:40pm

I would like to congratulate Mr Walsh for writing this article.No one can write such a storey in Pakistan otherwise he will have the same fate as that of Wali Baber.

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fazalpai

Sep 16, 2013 03:45pm

good luck ! Pakistan badly needs foreign exchange.

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Reader

Sep 16, 2013 04:10pm

At least like a decent newspaper Shed some light on what did his report say about MQM. When would we move from operational reporting to Strategic reporting, explaining whole stories and archiving events to show a bigger picture???

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zafars

Sep 16, 2013 04:12pm

If anyone believes what NYT publishes then i would like to sell them the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

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Zafar

Sep 16, 2013 04:57pm

@Nasser : You like the dude so much you even involve Allah? Amazing.

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nabil

Sep 16, 2013 05:04pm

Mind set of leaders are wrong,they are spporting MQM couses also benifit from,all despots.

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Akbar

Sep 16, 2013 05:05pm

Kudos to New York Times for stating the facts that everyone in Pakistan knows but nobody has the courage to report. Perhaps now the gini is out of bottle and more Pakistani Newspapers will find courage to report the facts on MQM.

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S Patel

Sep 16, 2013 06:46pm

@nabil: Reminds me of Indian leaders. At least in this respect they think & act ALIKE.

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Sep 16, 2013 07:01pm

Not that the NYT publishes the truth all the time (yes they are biased), but we ALL know the true face of MQM. MQM doesn't realize that in the west, there is a thing called "free speech" and truth doesn't remain hidden for long. Instead of suing newspapers and individuals left and right, the MQM should check its own character.

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Patriot

Sep 16, 2013 07:03pm

According to MQM's website http://www.mqm.org/urdunews/3804, sender of the notice is Senator Farough Naseem, a Pakistani national. Will MQM pursue the case in American courts? Or, is it yet another drama for the public?

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Rauf

Sep 16, 2013 07:40pm

Declan is in London and Bhai can easily reach him. Bhai need cash anyway as Met. Police took away all the cash lying around his table.

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Lawyer

Sep 16, 2013 07:42pm

What does Altaf Hussain and his party think? By filing the defamation suit, will they get the decree against Declan Walsh? Mind you, Sir, the battleground would be New York, not Karachi. Your supporters perhaps can manage to raise a slogan outside the court, but cannot coerce the judge into delivering what is possible in Karachi. Imagine, if the defamation suit is dismissed! Who wins in AA vs. DW!!!

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Yemeen Zuberi

Sep 16, 2013 08:11pm

We Pakistanis pass judgments before a court verdict. We become vulnerable to eating dust.

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Sep 16, 2013 08:34pm

People know the history of Declan Walsh, he has been showing baseless reports carrying false allegations to get money from our local other political parties. He is paid for publishing all these types of fake stories.

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M. Siddique

Sep 16, 2013 09:29pm

MQM knows that no damage was done by this reporting. Except there is an opportunity to make up the losses due to reduction in extortion payment from Karachi. Also, the Scottland Yard is also tightening the noose and Secretariat expenses have to be met. Isn't it simple math.

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Masoud

Sep 16, 2013 09:35pm

It is pertinent to note here that Declan Walsh, The New York Times' then Islamabad bureau chief, was expelled from Pakistan on the eve of May 2013 general elections, after the interim government had accused him of unspecified ''undesirable activities.'' ............................................................................................................................................... Above clearly gives the idea of the character of DW. This man may have been busy with is agenda of illegal activities in Pakistan, may be he was an under cover agent

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Parvez

Sep 17, 2013 12:25am

Has this notice been served on the NYT's in the American courts or Pakistani courts ????

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mujahid

Sep 17, 2013 07:24am

who sent the notice to New York Times probably there Senator.Farogh if the spelling are right & what will be the outcome only Ha Ha

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M Rafique

Sep 17, 2013 12:10pm

Farogh Saheb, what happened to similar notice sent to Mr. Imran Khan of PTI, which they are ready to face in the court.

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Jaan Mohd

Sep 17, 2013 04:45pm

Ye Bhattay ki purchi hai Ya defamation notice.....hahahaah

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Fareed

Sep 18, 2013 05:25am

What Declan Walsh said is mostly in reference to Scotland Yard's investigation.Why does n't Altaf sue Scotland Yard ?

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mike

Sep 18, 2013 07:22am

@M Rafique: Mr Imran Khan is not quite the brightest guy and his following is very similar to him.

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mike

Sep 18, 2013 07:25am

@a: There is plenty truth about Pakistan and Muslims too on the ny times ..care to browse ? And also about the fascist genes and their regional prevalence ?

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Naeem Syed

Sep 18, 2013 02:55pm

@Masoud: Was there a possibility that he was getting too close to the Rigging of the Elections in Punjab and Karachi.

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Blister

Sep 18, 2013 02:59pm

Daal roti to chalaani hai! even if it goes with defamation suits......

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Sajjad

Sep 18, 2013 09:39pm

Even though we all already knew what Declan Walsh wrote but it needed to be said. About time someone in media had the courage to say it. Unfortunately, Pakistani media has been shown the example of Wali Babar (and others before him) by MQM which explains why Pakistani media does not produce reports like this one.

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Mirza

Sep 19, 2013 12:46am

Its look most of us didnt even read the article and just passing comments on the news and doing one side bashing. Was Mr. Delcan sleeping all those years when Karachi was burning in the same way? or its time now to blackmail Karachi political powers to get all the Nato containers pass smoothly through the port....Wake up guys? even to fight a battle you need battle ground first......so first safe the battle ground than fight whoever you want to fight.

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