Apology - Dr Akbar Malik

The report, originally titled "UK civil partnership law being abused" (23 February 2006), wrongly alleged that Dr Akbar Malik of Malik Law Chambers had advised a Times undercover reporter on how to stay in the United Kingdom by entering into a sham civil partnership. In fact, a reporter never spoke to Dr Malik and it follows that Dr Malik did not give him the advice in question. We apologise to Dr Malik for the distress and embarrassment caused by the article.