Former High Commissioner Naela Chohan’s civil suit alleges that former servant Shahid Mahmood violated his employment contract by levelling false allegations against her. It also alleges that Mahmood’s action defamed Chohan and damaged her diplomatic career.
A written response submitted by Mahmood's lawyer asserts that his story is true and the accusations made by Chohan in the lawyer's statement are false.
Mahmood worked in Chohan’s residence for 19 months until June 2016, when he escaped the Canberra residence and sought asylum in Australia.
In February 2018, Mahmood alleged on ABC's Four Corners that he has been subject to mistreatment, verbal abuse and low wages while working in the official residence of High Commissioner Chohan.
Mahmood had escaped from the residence with the help of a security guard and was eventually granted a protection visa in September 2017, following an investigation by the AFP and the immigration department.
Recently filed lawsuit letter by former high commissioner claims that motive behind his servant’s false allegations was to get asylum in Australia, who brought from Pakistan after signage of a contract, are only motivated by the dispirited will of getting asylum in Australia. Lawsuit letter alleged that Mr Mahmood’s claims are “gross distortion of the facts.
Chohan’s lawsuit claims that the motive behind Mahmood’s allegations was purely to seek asylum in Australia after he had signed an employment contract. It claims that he has spread a “gross distortion of the facts.”
Speaking exclusively to SBS Urdu, Chohan’s lawyer Ahmer Bilal Soofi says that his client fulfilled all her commitments towards the contract.
Mr Shahid was never mistreated and neither his wages were held and the story was made up to seek asylum in Australia,” says the lawyer
In a response to SBS Urdu query, Shahid Mahmood's lawyer David Hillard of Pro Bono stated that Shahid stands completely with his version of incidents those he described in ABC four corner program.
In a written response submitted by Shahid's lawyer, he reiterated that his story is completely true and the accusations made by Ms Naela Chohan in the lawyer's statement are false.
" The accusations made by Ms Naela Chohan in the lawyer's statement are false. I told the truth on the ABC Four Corners program last year about what happened to me at Naela Chohan's residence in Canberra. It is terrible that Ms Chohan's lawyer's statement alleges that this was some sort of conspiracy to seek asylum in Australia. It was no such thing".
What happened to me was real, and my story is true. I worked hard, for very long hours, every day for a year and a half, with almost no pay. My passport was taken from me and I could not leave
Mahmood’s lawyer declined to comment on the civil case in Pakistan
Chohan’s lawyer says that in accordance with Pakistan Government practices Mahmood’s salary was paid partly in cash and partly in kind on a monthly basis, exceeding Australia’s minimum wage prerequisite for issuing his Visa. He claims that the salary remittance was sent to Mahmood’s father through proper banking channels.
Naela chohan name stands cleared with the filing of her version in the suit before the civil judge in Islamabad. however, our client is not ruling out any other legal options including the one to commence the legal process in Australia.
Indian consulate fails to pay underpaid driver despite repeated court orders
Indian consulate fails to pay underpaid driver despite repeated court orders
Some in the Pakistani community in Australia expressed dismay on the news of the lawsuit, as fearing it will resurface the past story and impact negatively on the image of Pakistan abroad.
Others have supported the former Pakistani diplomat’s right to restore her reputation on accusations, while many others do not want to talk about the issue as they lost hope of any independent inquiry.
