Pakistani journalist to sue BBC

KARACHI – A Pakistani journalist is seeking 50 million rupees (US$833 333) in damages from the BBC, claiming it inferred he was connected with the death of Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer.

Ehsan Qureshi, a correspondent with the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan, said footage of him talking to Woolmer was used by the British broadcaster in a defamatory manner. The segment, part of a Panaroma programme called ‘Death at the World Cup’, showed Qureshi in conversation with Woolmer at a social event during the two days before the coach died.In a legal notice served to the BBC, his lawyers said the programme “gave an impression as if me and the other gentleman accompanying him were the suspects or had anything to do with the death of Bob Woolmer.”Woolmer was found dead in his hotel room in Jamaica the morning after Pakistan crashed out of the tournament.Police believe he was murdered.Qureshi’s lawyer claimed the programme “was an attempt to malign my client to connect him with an offence to which he had no concern at all,” according to the writ seen by AFP yesterday.He said the programme was screened on the international BBC World channel, and clips were re-broadcast on Pakistani and Indian networks.Qureshi said the footage caused him and his family distress.No suspects have been arrested over Woolmer’s death, which recent reports suggest may have been from natural causes.Nampa-AFPThe segment, part of a Panaroma programme called ‘Death at the World Cup’, showed Qureshi in conversation with Woolmer at a social event during the two days before the coach died.In a legal notice served to the BBC, his lawyers said the programme “gave an impression as if me and the other gentleman accompanying him were the suspects or had anything to do with the death of Bob Woolmer.”Woolmer was found dead in his hotel room in Jamaica the morning after Pakistan crashed out of the tournament.Police believe he was murdered.Qureshi’s lawyer claimed the programme “was an attempt to malign my client to connect him with an offence to which he had no concern at all,” according to the writ seen by AFP yesterday.He said the programme was screened on the international BBC World channel, and clips were re-broadcast on Pakistani and Indian networks.Qureshi said the footage caused him and his family distress.No suspects have been arrested over Woolmer’s death, which recent reports suggest may have been from natural causes.Nampa-AFP