Notice terms ARY campaign against Mansha/MCB baseless, malicious

JournalismPakistan.com | Published March 29, 2015

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Notice terms ARY campaign against Mansha/MCB baseless, malicious

ISLAMABAD: A public notice on Sunday termed as highly malicious a media campaign run by ARY News Television against "Mian Muhammad Mansha, MCB Bank Limited and other concerned entities".

The notice in Dawn by M/s Cornelius Lane & Mufti, Advocates and Solicitors says that it is being published on the specific instructions of their clients to inform the public about the real reasons for "this baseless and unfounded media campaign."

"ARY Communications (Pvt.) Ltd was led by the late Haji Abdul Razzaq Yaqoob and is now managed/controlled by his family members. Late Mr. Razzaq is a defaulter of MCB Bank Limited for an amount of US$51 million," reads the notice.

"In this regard multiple cases are pending adjudication before Honorable Sindh High Court at Karachi between MCB Bank Limited and persons/entities part of ARY Group. These include a suit for recovery of approximately US$51 million filed by MCB Bank Limited against Haji Abdul Razzaq Yaqoob (Late), being sole proprietor of ARY Traders, who is now being represented through his family members."

The notice adds: "The family members of Haji Abdul Razzaq Yaqoob, now controlling ARY Communications (Pvt.) Ltd (ARY News), are using their channel to pressurize our Clients with the objective that MCB Bank Limited may give up its legitimate claims against persons/entities part of ARY Group. The concerned anchors are advancing this agenda by making disparaging statements without any verification."

The solicitors state that the aforesaid actions were "contrary to all norms of decency and professional ethics. The issue has also been agitated before Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), which is pending adjudication. Further, a suit for damages has also been filed against ARY Communications and others, pending before the Honorable Sindh High Court at Karachi.

"Our Clients vehemently deny all false and baseless allegations.....and as a matter of propriety, do not wish to respond in detail to such allegations."

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