Ofcom upholds ARY News complaint by show guest

Ofcom has upheld a complaint put forward by a guest on ARY News’ show ‘Khara Sach’.

The show, which aired in November featured Miss Samina Bilal spoke about a video which had emerged on the internet featuring Miss Bilal purportedly saying that she had had an affair with Lord Nazir Ahmed. She claims she was unfairly treated in connection with the obtaining of material included in the programme.

‘Khara Sach’ is a talk show programme presented by Mr Mubashir Luqman. Mr Luqman spoke about, amongst other topics. The news reports reported on the video and included part of a recording of a telephone interview between an ARY News reporter and Miss Bilal and also with some of her relatives, in which Miss Bilal�۪s mental health and Lord Nazir Ahmed were discussed.

Ofcom found that:
-The nature of the discussions and the comments made about Miss Bilal in the programmes disclosed private and sensitive information about her in a way that was unfair. The broadcaster had therefore failed in its obligation to avoid unjust or unfair treatment of Miss Bilal in the programmes as broadcast.

-Miss Bilal�۪s privacy was unwarrantably infringed in connection with the obtaining of material included in the programmes and in the broadcast of the contents of the telephone conversation between her and the programme makers.

Ofcom considered that the Miss Bilal�۪s legitimate expectation of privacy outweighed the broadcaster�۪s right to freedom of expression. Therefore, Ofcom has upheld Miss Bilal�۪s complaint of unjust or unfair treatment, and of unwarranted infringement of privacy in connection with the obtaining of the material included in the programmes and in the programmes as broadcast.