Slam dunk Maryam: 92 News to shut down in the UK after Maryam Nawaz defamation case

Urdu language TV channel 92 News has shut down operations and transmission in the United Kingdom after Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif launched a defamation case in the UK High Court over a programme aired in the UK by the channel. The program allegedly made false accusations against Maryam of taking Toshakhana gifts in an alleged violation of rule, and in conspiracy with bureaucrats.

92 News/Glaxy has previously apologised to Senator Ishaq Dar in the UK in a defamation case and also lost a defamation case to PMLN UK vice president Nasir Mahmood.

Sources in 92 News (also known as 92 News HD Plus) in the UK and Pakistan confirm that the channel terminated its services from 31st July 2024 in the UK after being advised by its British lawyers. Lawyers allegedly told them that they would lose the defamation case at the trial level in the UK High Court later in the year, with potential costs of over £250,000 in legal fees and damages, likely to be rewarded to Maryam Nawaz.

Last month, the channel sent out a notification to the UK govt’s TV regulator and Sky management that it was winding up the company (Glaxy Broadcasting Network Limited) that owns 92 News in UK and will stop broadcasting in the UK after 31st July 2024.

The Programme on Maryam

Maryam initiated legal proceedings against 92 News/Glaxy after anchors Amir Mateen and Sarwat Valim in the programme ’Muqabil’, on November 17, 2022, accused her of taking Toshakhana gifts. The anchors alleged that Maryam Nawaz took a watch from the Toshakhana worth a million for only PKR 45,000 with help from the bureaucracy in a ‘corrupt scheme’. The allegation was false as Maryam had not received any such gift, and her lawyers argued as much in the claim, seeking an apology and damages. Her lawyers stated, in court papers at UK High Court, that Maryam had suffered serious harm to her reputation by the imputations in the broadcast and therefore the channel should apologise.

The channel accepted during the communications that it had no defence of the allegations but argued on technicalities that the anchors were fed news by social media after the Toshakhana scandals broke out.

The case at UK High Court was registered for trial hearings later this year and before the trial could begin in just a few months, the channel decided to shut down its operations and move into liquidation to avoid paying heavy damages and costs. Maryam Nawaz was represented in the case by Stone White Solicitors.

The show aired on 92 News in the UK and Pakistan after the federal government made the list of state officials who received Toshakhana gifts since 2002 public in accordance with the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) directives.

The record stated that by putting just Rs20.17 million in Toshakhana, former premier Imran Khan was able to keep a watch (A Graff watch, No. AU750) set in 18-karat gold and diamonds valued at about Rs. 85 million, a pair of cufflinks worth over Rs. 5.6 million, a pen worth Rs. 1.5 million rupees, and an engagement ring worth Rs. 8.7 million.

Former president Asif Ali Zardari also kept a number of items after depositing a total of about Rs. 16.1 million, including a BMW 760 Li with an estimated value of Rs. 57,828,705 and a Toyota Lexus LX 470 with an estimated value of Rs. 50,000,000.

The record said by depositing Rs. 0.243 million in Toshakhana in 2013, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was able to keep one Rolex Watch Oyster Perpetual N Series 0835D018, one pair of cufflinks with a pen (worth Rs. 0.025 million), and four commemorative coins from the Central Bank of Kuwait (worth Rs. 0.015 million). Kulsoom Nawaz, the wife of Nawaz Sharif, kept a bracelet worth Rs. 12.7 million and a pair of earrings worth Rs. 41.6 million by depositing Rs. 10.8 million in 2016.

A PMLN spokesman in Lahore said Maryam Nawaz never benefitted from the Toshakhana and the allegation was false. “Maryam Nawaz launched a case in the UK against 92 News to clear her name and she stands vindicated as 92 News made it clear during proceedings it had no evidence. The channel confirmed the allegation was false and knew it would be heavily punished for running a fake news. Therefore it has decided to liquidate and end business in UK.”