The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has issued an interim order directing a homeopathic doctor in Lahore to immediately stop his deceptive tv commercial being aired on various tv channels making absolute claims to treat various diseases. CCP initiated an inquiry against Al Haaj Dr. Mian Liaquat Ali of Liaquat Hospital Lahore after receiving complaints that they were allegedly involved in deceptive marketing practices through television commercial in violation of Section 10 of the Competition Act, 2010. CCP also contacted Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and College of Surgeons and Physicians in this regard. As per the inquiry report, Mr. Liaquat Ali used the term "Doctor" instead of "Homeopathic Doctor" with his name thus resorting to deceptive marketing practices. Moreover, he made absolute claims in his tv commercials that he can cure diseases like Hepatitis A, B and C, Sugar, obesity, dandruff, and vitiligo or phulbehri, guaranteed birth of son, and he also offered treatment to people on telephone. Based on the findings of the Inquiry Report, show cause notices were issued to the respondent. During the hearings, Mr. Liaquat Ali's lawyer assured the Commission of making suitable alteration in the tv commercial of his client to address CCP's concerns, but no revised tv commercial has been submitted till date. Moreover, since the last hearing the Respondents have started airing the tv commercials on other channels in different languages. In the process of hearings, CCP is further investigating the authenticity of his claims to cure various chronic diseases. During the hearing on 15th January 2015, a bench of the Commission comprising of Vadiyya Khalil, Chairperson, Dr. Shehzad Ansar, Dr. Joseph Wilson and Ikram Ul Haque Qureshi, Members, issued an interim order directing to immediately stop airing the TVC in any language and on all channels till the conclusion of proceedings and file written commitment and compliance report with the Registrar of the Commission within fifteen days from the issuance of this order.
The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has issued an interim order directing a homeopathic doctor in Lahore to immediately stop his deceptive tv commercial being aired on various tv channels making absolute claims to treat various diseases. CCP initiated an inquiry against Al Haaj Dr. Mian Liaquat Ali of Liaquat Hospital Lahore after receiving complaints that they were allegedly involved in deceptive marketing practices through television commercial in violation of Section 10 of the Competition Act, 2010. CCP also contacted Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and College of Surgeons and Physicians in this regard.
As per the inquiry report, Mr. Liaquat Ali used the term "Doctor" instead of "Homeopathic Doctor" with his name thus resorting to deceptive marketing practices. Moreover, he made absolute claims in his tv commercials that he can cure diseases like Hepatitis A, B and C, Sugar, obesity, dandruff, and vitiligo or phulbehri, guaranteed birth of son, and he also offered treatment to people on telephone. Based on the findings of the Inquiry Report, show cause notices were issued to the respondent. During the hearings, Mr. Liaquat Ali's lawyer assured the Commission of making suitable alteration in the tv commercial of his client to address CCP's concerns, but no revised tv commercial has been submitted till date. Moreover, since the last hearing the Respondents have started airing the tv commercials on other channels in different languages. In the process of hearings, CCP is further investigating the authenticity of his claims to cure various chronic diseases.
During the hearing on 15th January 2015, a bench of the Commission comprising of Vadiyya Khalil, Chairperson, Dr. Shehzad Ansar, Dr. Joseph Wilson and Ikram Ul Haque Qureshi, Members, issued an interim order directing to immediately stop airing the TVC in any language and on all channels till the conclusion of proceedings and file written commitment and compliance report with the Registrar of the Commission within fifteen days from the issuance of this order.
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