UNI
 
Karachi, May 23: A Pakistani journalist has served a legal notice to BBC seeking 50 million rupees in damages for showing footages of him talking to Bob Woolmer in a defamatory manner, which he alleges gave an impression as if he was one of the suspects.

Ehsan Qureshi, a correspondent with the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan, alleged footage of him talking to Woolmer was used by the British broadcaster in a defamatory manner in a part of a Panorama programme called 'Death at the World Cup'.

The footages supposedly 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 following its humiliating loss to minnows Ireland. Jamaican Police believe he was murdered although innumerable angles have been doing the rounds as to the cause of his death.

According to Fox Sports, 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,'' a writ stated.

He said the programme was screened on the international BBC World channel, and clips were re-broadcast on Pakistani and Indian networks, causing him and his family distress.

No suspects have been arrested so far but recent reports suggest the burly coach may have died from natural causes.