A video of a journalist being thrashed during a TV debate on a Pakistani TV channel by a member of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf of Prime Minister Imran Khan has gone viral on social media. This has triggered a wave of angry reactions from journalists across Pakistan.
During the debate on a programme News Line with Aftab Mugheri, Masroor Ali Siyal from the PTI lost his cool and pounced on Karachi Press Club President Imtiaz Khan, who fell on the ground after being violently pushed by Siyal.
In the video, Imtiaz Khan is seen arguing with Siyal, who is seen warning him of consequences since he doesn’t tolerate ‘such things.’ Within seconds he launches an attack on Siyal pushing him to the ground. Siyal follows it up with punches and slaps. Siyal is later heard saying that the journalist shouldn’t have asked him questions with badtameezi.
Shame on #PTI representative attacking Karachi Press Club President and our friend Imtiaz Khan Faran. I condemn this sickening march of fascism. @WusatUllahKhan @HullioSikandar @NazranaYusufzai @abbasnasir59 @omar_quraishi @betterpakistan pic.twitter.com/OfHj5PzWnk
— Mushtaq Rajpar (@MushRajpar) June 24, 2019
No sooner did the video of this violence emerge, members of the Pakistani media fraternity reacted angrily.
PTI’s Masroor Siyal punched president Karachi Press Club Imtiaz Khan Faran in a TV talk show.
??? Worst trend of intolerance. https://t.co/cuTPhv6xJ9— Nadia Mirza (@nadia_a_mirza) June 24, 2019
This is a shameful act of @PTIofficial representative Masroor Siyal, who attacked Karachi press club president, senior journalist, Imtiaz khan Faran. Police should register a case. pic.twitter.com/JPF834l7lZ
— Javed Soomro (@javisoomro) June 24, 2019
Shamefull act of PTI local leader Masroor siyal attake on imtiaz Faran President karachi press club. KUJ Condamn. Ghunda garddi na manzoor pic.twitter.com/1L8LcCjWbf
— aajizjamali (@aajizjamali2) June 24, 2019
Not too long ago, journalist Sami Ibrahim had reportedly filed a complaint accusing Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry of slapping him at a wedding. Imran Khan had later reportedly taken notice of the attack. Later, the Ministry of Science and Technology had issued a response, saying that the “incident” should not be treated as a “clash between two institutions but as a conflict between two individuals”.