Another controversy surrounds Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz as she engages in an altercation with a renowned female journalist, Gharida Farooqi, on Twitter on Wednesday.
Nawaz and Farooqi had a tiff when the latter had commented on the PMLN leader’s comments on the party workers meeting with COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa and ISI Chief, earlier today.
Nawaz makes politically explosive remarks
Nawaz had made politically explosive remarks by appearing to disown a statement made by her uncle regarding a meeting with the army chief earlier this month when she appeared for a hearing at Islamabad High Court.
Do not try to act smart and play nasty. I gave a principled statement which is in line with what our constitution says. Don’t make it sound like it was directed at our party president or any specific member. https://t.co/Vm0BNYgi8m
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) September 23, 2020
“Maryam Nawaz openly opposed the visit of Shahbaz Sharif and others to the ISI mess. Tweet from N-League official account. While Ahsan Iqbal Sahib said in our program yesterday that there is no problem in this, it happens all over the world,” Farooqi had commented on the statement of Nawaz released on the party’s official Twitter page.
Read more: Does Shehbaz Sharif no longer represent Nawaz Sharif?
Unable to withstand her rage, Nawaz jumped in with all guns blazing to respond to Farooqi. “Do not try to act smart and play nasty. I gave a principled statement which is in line with what our constitution says. Don’t make it sound like it was directed at our party president or any specific member,” wrote Nawaz while dissing the journalist.
Meanwhile, Farooqi also clapped back at her comments on Twitter.
“Respected Maryam sba, let me ask you the Q then. Do you believe your party president & other PMLN members did right by going to ISI Mess for a meeting on GB? Hopefully I’ll get answer to my Q and it won’t be attacked as ‘nasty play’. Regards,” said Farooqi.
Respected Maryam sba, let me ask you the Q then. Do you believe your party president & other PMLN members did right by going to ISI Mess for meeting on GB?
Hopefully I’ll get answer to my Q and it won’t be attacked as ‘nasty play’. Regards https://t.co/KGGpfYJe5j— Gharidah Farooqi (T.I.) (@GFarooqi) September 23, 2020
A spat between the anchorperson-journalist and Nawaz came as a shock to million Twitter users. Since Farooqi is often perceived as a PMLN apologist, while Nawaz, who often targets the government with her vitriolic statements, rarely engages in a verbal spat with journalists.
Read more: PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz denies party met army chief
Meanwhile, her strong attack against Farooqi did not go unnotice as Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ)- a New York-based non-profit organization- took notice of Nawaz’s fierce response to the tweet of the journalist. The organization, in a tweet, described Nawaz’s response as threatening the safety and security of female journalists.
Condemnable verbal attacks against @GFarooqi just a day after our #ThreatsToWIJ campaign is evidence that the state and other actors must act swiftly and take the demands put forth by #womenjournalists through several statements into consideration. #AttacksWontSilenceUs https://t.co/mqJZuemL2N
— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) September 23, 2020
“Condemnable verbal attacks against @GFarooqi just a day after our #ThreatsToWIJ campaign is evidence that the state and other actors must act swiftly and take the demands put forth by #womenjournalists through several statements into consideration. #AttacksWontSilenceUs,” wrote CJWIJ in a tweet.
GVS News Desk