Sacked AKES official loses defamation case against Chitral Today
CHITRAL: The defamation case against Chitral Today filed by a sacked official of the Aga Khan Education Service (AKES) Chitral in 2014 was dismissed by a court on Thursday.
After hearing final arguments by Chitral Today lawyer Afzal Nageen Advocate and submission of documents showing Zohran Shah had been sacked by the AKES for misusing the organization’s resources in 2009, Additional District Judge Lower Chitral Mr Muhammad Qasim threw out the case.
In his short order, the judge observed that the plaintiff failed to present evidence to prove his case and the report published in the online newspaper was true and in public interest.
The detailed judgement will be issued by the court in a few days.
The case was filed by sacked AKES Chitral assistant general manager Zohran Shah after a report was published in this newspaper about a public protest held in Mastuj on March 27, 2014, against the closure of two community schools in the area.
In that protest, the participants had stated that Zohran Shah was sacked for corruption in 2009 but he was still interfering in the affairs of the organization and was allegedly responsible for the closure of the schools.
The sacked AKES official filed the Rs10 million defamation case against Chitral Today, claiming that he had not been terminated by the AKES, but had resigned on his own.
Initially, because of wrong addresses submitted to the court by the sacked official, summons could not reach the newspaper and the case was decided ex parte against the newspaper editor and the chief reporter in 2016.
However, a year later, the newspaper challenged the ex parte decree, which was set aside by the court in 2019.
During the proceedings of the case, the plaintiff also presented to the court a handwritten resignation letter, which was termed fake by the defence counsel.
On the other hand, the newspaper presented in the court documents showing the plaintiff had been sent home by the AKES-Pakistan head office in Karachi for the misuse of the organization’s resources on Sept 29, 2009.
The documents also showed that Zohran Shah had later filed a case in Peshawar High Court’s Mingora bench (Darul Qaza), seeking reinstatement which was dismissed in 2012.
The defence lawyer earlier maintained that the newspaper report had been published in public interest and that after the report the two schools were restored in Khuz village and Laspur.
Read details of the court ruling at this link.
There is no denying the fact there are mafias in Chitral who resort to such tactics to put pressure not only on media but on their opponents as well. Such people are called habitual petitioners. But at the end of the day, they had to face embarassement and humiliation.
This case is an eye opener for all those still busy in making mistakes rather blunders while running charity or government funded private schools, NGOs especially ones operating in the area for so many years particularly in health and education sectors.
They need to be very careful or let me say it loud and clear their days are numbered. They will be exposed sooner or later.
I think this was the first ever defamation case which was contested with full might by an organization (Chitral Today) and rightly so, in order to ensure its story was based on facts. Brilliant brothers. you did a great job. Take these corrupts to task like you people did in this particular case. There is no dearth of such people in Chitral who resort to such tactics to pressure the media. But you people made history by dragging the guy in the court in order to bring the truth to the fore. This should be clear to all and sundry that there is NO ROOM for the corrupts, pressure groups, and any other mafia boss involved in any kind of bad practices in the area.
It means this man namely Zohran Shah’s double standard did not work. For seven years he pursued a case and after seven years ended up red faced and told people at large that he what had done with AKES and then to conceal his wrongdoing. But at last he exposed himself.
There is much to learn for those who understand.
اس کو کہتے ھین چوری اوپر سے سینہ زوری۔
succeed after long time struggle great job
کافی عرصہ گزرنے کے بعد کامیابی حاصیل کی ہےیہ ادارے کی بھی کامیابی ہے اوروکیل صاھب کی محنت کا نتیجہ ہے
A life lesson for all those flexing muscles who resort to such pressure tactics to gag the media. Keep up the good work Chitral Today. hats off!
Afzal lal bo mubaraki for winning the pinhole case. Thumb up Chitral Today for bringing forth such culprits.
زندگی وہ سبق ہے جسے جتنا جلدی سیکھ لیا جائے اتنا ہی بہتر ہے ورنہ زندگی خود بہت کچھ سکھا دیتی ہے، لیکن اس کے سکھانے کا اپنا ہی ایک الگ انداز ہے جس میں کبھی کبھی انسان تماشا بن کر رہ جاتا ہے. بہت بہت ذیادہ مبارک ہو چترال ٹوڈے ا
Congratulations to the Editor of Chitraltoday and his counsel Adv Afzal Nageen!
Well deserved. Thumbs up, ChitralToday. War against corruption should continue.
Best wishes to Chitral Today.
Congrats team ChitralToday. Keep exposing black sheep wherever they are either in govt or private sector.
Allah kare zor e qalam aur zyada!!!