Sharif v Associated Newspapers Ltd (Rev 1) [2021] EWHC 343 (QB) (05 February 2021)

Sharif v Associated Newspapers Ltd (Rev 1) [2021] EWHC 343 (QB) (05 February 2021)

The Article, as understood by the ordinary reasonable reader, alleged that Mr Sharif was party to and the principal beneficiary of laundering tens of millions of pounds, proceeds of his embezzlement as Chief Minister of Punjab, including substantial British public money and corrupt payments from kickbacks or commissions. For Mr Yousaf, the Article alleged he knowingly received £1 million embezzled from earthquake relief funds and there are strong grounds to suspect he benefitted as part of Mr Sharif's family from laundered payments of embezzled public funds. Both meanings are defamatory at common law. The Article's presentation, detail, and limited antidote did not reduce the defamatory...

Citation
[2021] EWHC 343 (QB)
Parties
Claimant: Mian Muhammad Shabaz Sharif; Claimant: Imran Ali Yousaf; Defendant: Associated Newspapers Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
05 February 2021
Procedural Posture
Defamation (libel) / Preliminary Issue Trial on Natural and Ordinary Meaning and Whether Defamatory at Common Law
Outcome
Preliminary issue determined: natural and ordinary meanings as set out in the judgment; both meanings are defamatory at common law; costs of the preliminary issue to be costs in the case.
Legal Topics
Libel, Meaning of Defamatory Statements, Chase Levels, Repetition Rule, Bane and Antidote, Costs in Preliminary Issues
Media Law Defamation Tort Libel Meaning of Defamatory Statements Chase Levels Repetition Rule Bane and Antidote +1 more

Case Brief

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Parties

Mian Muhammad Shabaz Sharif

Claimant

Imran Ali Yousaf

Claimant

Associated Newspapers Limited

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Defamation (libel) / Preliminary Issue Trial on Natural and Ordinary Meaning and Whether Defamatory at Common Law

Legal Issues

  1. 1 What is the natural and ordinary meaning of the Article in respect of each Claimant?
  2. 2 Is that meaning defamatory of the Claimant at common law?

Ratio Decidendi

The Article, as understood by the ordinary reasonable reader, alleged that Mr Sharif was party to and the principal beneficiary of laundering tens of millions of pounds, proceeds of his embezzlement as Chief Minister of Punjab, including substantial British public money and corrupt payments from kickbacks or commissions. For Mr Yousaf, the Article alleged he knowingly received £1 million embezzled from earthquake relief funds and there are strong grounds to suspect he benefitted as part of Mr Sharif's family from laundered payments of embezzled public funds. Both meanings are defamatory at common law. The Article's presentation, detail, and limited antidote did not reduce the defamatory...

Court Disposition

Preliminary issue determined: natural and ordinary meanings as set out in the judgment; both meanings are defamatory at common law; costs of the preliminary issue to be costs in the case.

Orders

  • Natural and ordinary meaning of the Article in respect of each Claimant determined as per judgment.
  • Both meanings held defamatory at common law.