Asma Shirazi gets ‘targeted’ by govt spokesman as journalists lend support

By
PakistanToday
-
0
779

Prominent Anchorperson Asma Shirazi was targetted by Punjab chief minister’s spokesman Dr Shahbaz Gill when she appeared on Nasim Zehra’s talk show on 24 News HD.

Later, Shirazi proceeded to share a clip of the show on Twitter and wrote that it was “disappointing” that Punjab CM’s Spokesman @ShabazGil, “instead of arguing with logic and performance, attacked her professionally” and then “launched a barrage of abuses on social media trough planted trolls.”

“This is how they are dealing [with] media,” she noted ruefully.

During the show which focused on the recent tragedy in Sahiwal when a Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) ‘encounter’ resulted in the deaths of three members of a family, Shahbaz accused ‘sister’ Asma of being a “hardcore Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supporter” and accused her of indifference when “sixteen murders took place in Punjab and it went on for hours”.

“That was an administrative problem, and not this. [There was a response] within hours,” he asserted.

Incensed, Asma responded: “This is a problem with them that whenever they face criticism, they feel that it is coming from a PML-N supporter. You would not be able to tolerate the criticism we leveled at PML-N after the Model Town incident. ”

“You keep on leveling excuses. This is a tradition of your government and your leader Imran Khan. You need to prove these allegations. Do you know how many programs I did on the Model Town incident?”, she went on to say.

“How do you know that we did not take any notice of it?”, she asked as he tried to cut her off.

The show host then tried to gain control of the situation and told Shahbaz to “take back his words” for he was making a “personal attack”.

Zehra also took to Twitter and wrote: “[It was] absolutely wrong of government spokesperson to accuse professional journalist @asmashirazi of being indifferent towards ModelTown tragedy. Asma, in fact, was very critical of the Model Town killings. It is best to argue on real facts and logic and avoid labeling for a purposeful discussion.”

Gill, however, distanced himself from the allegations and responded that he “respectfully disagreed” with his colleagues.

He wrote to Shirazi: “I [have] always respected you and will never pass any bad comment or encourage anyone for [any] such thing. Although you passed personal comments on me like ‘chaplusi day job, sharam, taat ki soch’ but it is okay. It must be out of anger. No hard feelings.”

Following this debacle, journalists and political figures on Twitter lent their support to Asma.

Raza Haroon, the secretary general of Pak Sarzameen Party, wrote that there was “no need for any explanation or justification”.

“You are a truly graceful, professional, intelligent, competent and caring journalist and anchorperson -my favourite as well. Just ignore [such bullies] as [it is] not worth it. Stay blessed,” he added.

Former editor Dawn Abbas Nasir wrote: “Well done, Asma. So pleased you stood up and forcefully rebutted these uncalled for remarks.”

Journalist Raza Rumi also lauded Shirazi for “holding her ground” for it is a common tactic “to create false perceptions and then circulate them”.

“Asma Shirazi is a fearless journalist, speaks her mind and reports facts. Her fault is that she is a democrat and does not pander to forces of authoritarianism. Journalists have to question and uphold constitutional rights for there can be no freedom of the press without it. Stop harassing her,” he further said.

Nadeem Farooq Paracha wrote: “Bang on target, Asma. Mindless rhetoric met with mindful rebuttal. This knee-jerk ‘why you no’ nonsense deserves such a response. Good going.”

Former director-general of Radio Pakistan, Murtaza Solangi wrote that it was good for her to take a stand for Shahbaz is “the most loud-mouthed liar”.

Journalist Owais Tohid also commended Shirazi for beign a “thorough professional” and “honest journalist”. He added that “casting doubts about her journalistic integrity is unjustfiied.”

Atif Mateen wrote that this is not the first time that government spokesmen, which he likened to a ‘public relations’ job, have been asked to “target professional journalists, who do not toe line, on TV and social media”.

“Asma is not the first and neither will be the last, butwell-donee @asmashirazi for taking such bullies head on,” he tweeted.

Anchor Wajih Sani tweeted that those who were trolling journalists should be ashamed. More power to Asma Shirazi [for] she is one brave journalist, he added.

Umar Cheema asserted that Shirazi is “one of the finest” journalists and a person with “impeccable integrity”.

“Those attacking her are only exposing their mindset. Fighting fascists back is the only way forward,” he stated.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR