–Journalist community condemns incident, expresses solidarity with senior journalist
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry on Friday night slapped senior anchorperson Sami Ibrahim at a wedding ceremony in Faisalabad following an argument in wake of the ongoing spat between the two.
Earlier in June, the senior anchorperson had alleged that some elements within the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were hatching a conspiracy against Prime Minister Imran Khan to oust him and to weaken the Pakistan Army. He alleged that Fawad Chaudhry was among the group who were conspiring against the incumbent government.
The minister responded by using slurs against the anchorperson, drawing widespread criticism from politicians, civil society and members of the journalist community. He also accused Sami of blackmailing him when he was the information minister.
On Friday, Fawad tweeted that he has initiated criminal proceedings against the senior anchorperson and he would teach him a lesson in accordance with the law. However, later that night when both of them met at a wedding function in Faisalabad, they had a bitter argument, which led to the minister slapping him on the face.
Meanwhile, the journalist community has announced that protests would be held on Saturday to condemn the minister’s behaviour and to express solidarity with the senior journalist.
