PESHAWAR: (APP) Journalist Umer Cheema fined with huge penalty in defamation suit
The court of Additional District and Session Judge Peshawar has reportedly awarded Rs. one million fine/compensation to Journalist Umer Cheema of an English National Daily in a defamation suit filed by Ex-Director Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Dr. Fashiuddin.
According to a press release issued by Dr. Fashiuddin who is now serving as Director Research and Analysis Centre KP, was removed from his post of Director FIA, KP in November 2010 in response to a news story filed by Umer Cheema.
The Additional District & Session Judge Aurangzeb Khan, reportedly declared in his detailed verdict on May 11, 2016- issued here Thursday that, "the plaintiff [Fasihuddin] has suffered damage to his honour and reputation as a result of the disputed article published in newspaper "The News International" by the defendant [Umer Cheema] which cannot be measured in terms of money.
However, keeping in view the evidence available on record, the plaintiff [Fasihuddin] is entitled for the decree only for general damages and in order to compensate him an amount of one million rupees is imposed upon the defendant as general damages.
In the verdict the respondent Umer Cheema is directed to tender an apology and publish the same in similar manner and with the same prominence as the defamatory statement made, for the wrong done to the plaintiff failing which the plaintiff will be entitled in addition to further decree of one million rupees as general damages".
Fasihuddin, at the court premises, while talking to the media said that justice has been done after a long trial for five years, and the Court decision against journalist was a landmark verdict in the history of journalism, which will discourage yellow-journalism and slanderous, baseless, defamatory and disrespectful reporting.
He said that he has suffered a lot due to the false and unjustified reporting and has faced NAB and Establishment enquiries, leading to a bar to his promotion.