Journalist Naeem Hanif apologises to Saba Qamar over defamatory remarks

Journalist Naeem Hanif has issued a public apology to actress Saba Qamar after a legal notice she served on him over “defamatory” remarks he made on his podcast.

Hanif appeared on a podcast hosted by Bushra Khan on RNN Network’s YouTube channel on Tuesday, where he addressed the controversy surrounding the actor.

Hanif admitted that in a video posted on their channel on November 3, he falsely claimed that Saba Qamar was in a live-in relationship with someone in Lahore.

“I verified that news later, and it was incorrect, and neither was there any truth in it," the journalist said, adding that his remarks hurt the actress' sentiments and tarnished her image. He apologised for his remarks and hurt caused to her

The actor shared his apology on her Instagram story with the caption: “Speechless.”

Earlier, on November 1, Hanif, who is also listed as RNN TV’s CEO on its website, appeared on the RNN TV YouTube channel to discuss Saba Qamar’s comments about preferring life in Lahore over Karachi. 

During the discussion, he made allegations about her personal life dating back to the early 2000s.

In response, Qamar sent a legal notice to Hanif and shared screenshots on Instagram, telling her followers that she had “taken legal action against a journalist who spread false and baseless claims about me.”

She urged fans and colleagues to stand against defamation and hold people accountable, adding, “No one has the right to make false accusations just for attention.”