Zia Chishti Prevails in Defamation Case Against The Telegraph
Zia Chishti won a defamation case against The Telegraph, which issued a formal apology for publishing false allegations. The case stemmed from claims made by his former employee. The newspaper will publish a retraction and compensate Chishti, who expressed relief after enduring significant hardships due to the allegations.
Pakistani-American businessman Zia Chishti has triumphed in his defamation lawsuit against The Telegraph, a UK newspaper, in the Royal Court of Justice, London. The publication has acknowledged that its allegations against Chishti were false, misleading, and defamatory, resulting in a formal apology that will be featured in both print and online formats.
The defamation case originated from claims made by Chishti’s former employee, Tatiana Spottiswood. The Telegraph reported these allegations but, prior to the trial, opted for an out-of-court settlement, admitting that their earlier assertions regarding the validity of these claims were incorrect.
As part of the settlement, The Telegraph will issue a formal apology to Chishti, which will be prominently displayed above the original pieces discussing the allegations. Furthermore, the newspaper will provide financial compensation to Chishti, covering the damages and his legal expenses.
Upon hearing the outcome, Chishti expressed relief, stating, “I never committed the acts that The Telegraph and Tatiana Spottiswood accused me of. My family and I have endured three and a half years of hardship, and my reputation and business interests suffered greatly.”
Chishti has also expressed a desire for the newly elected U.S. Congress to afford him a similar opportunity to vindicate his name as accorded to his accuser. Following the allegations, he resigned from the executive roles within his companies.
Three years post-resignation, his firm, Afiniti, declared bankruptcy, while his other enterprise, The Resource Group, continues to face financial difficulties and plummeting stock value. Notably, in 2018, Zia Chishti received Pakistan’s Sitara-e-Imtiaz in recognition of his significant contributions to business and technology.
Zia Chishti’s victory in the defamation case against The Telegraph underscores the importance of accuracy in journalistic reporting. The formal apology and settlement illustrate the repercussions faced by media outlets when publishing unfounded allegations. Furthermore, Chishti’s hopes for exoneration through potential Congressional intervention highlight ongoing challenges in his professional landscape, particularly after significant personal and business ramifications from the accusations.
Original Source: dunyanews.tv
