Pakistani social media is alive with criticism of a local journalist Gharidah Farooqi for statements made on Minister Murad Saeed during her recent program. Federal Ministers took to Twitter to condemn the journalist.
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) also issued a show-cause notice to the private news channel for airing the program where demeaning remarks were made on Federal Minister Murad Saeed. According to the PEMRA notice, the channel aired the show containing derogatory and demeaning remarks without any editorial checks.
To clarify, during Gharidah Farooqi’s show, the talk turned to the PTI government’s recent award ceremony for top-performing ministers. Regarding this, the journalist raised questions on PM Khan declaring Murad Saeed as the best-performing minister.
In response, Analyst Mohsin Baig, who participated in the program, said that the first performance of Murad Saeed was in Reham’s book. Later, Gharida Farooqi received heavy criticism for posting the clip from the show on her Twitter account. In fact, Twitter trends are running against Gharida Farooqi.
Read more: Murad Saeed named best minister by PM Khan
مرادسعید کی جس کارکردگی پر پہلانمبر ملا ہے وہ ریحام کی کتاب میں ہے؛ محسن بیگ
مرادسعید نےکارکردگی میں سب کو پیچھےچھوڑدیا مزید نہ پوچھیں پیمرا موجود ہے؛طارق محمود
مرادسعید کی کارکردگی کےالزامات سب کےسامنےموجود ہیں؛افتخاراحمد
میں مرادسعید کی کارکردگی بارے اتفاق کرتاہوں؛ جنرل امجد pic.twitter.com/TzGv09EZeN— Gharidah Farooqi (T.I.) (@GFarooqi) February 11, 2022
PTI slams journalist
Federal Ministers took to Twitter to condemn the journalist and the show. According to popular opinion, the statements made during the show were in poor taste and gave journalism a bad name.
“The use of very nonsensical and irresponsible talk by anchors and participants on a news channel yesterday is highly reprehensible. What kind of journalism is this? Criticism is your legitimate right, but it is very sad to fall below moral values,” Foreign Minister Qureshi tweeted.
Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari called the entire panel of the show “gutter.” Meanwhile, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry revealed that this is why he has been campaigning for media laws since 2018.
“Only if the Cabinet passes the law, it is possible to get rid of such cheapness,” Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.
On the other hand, Federal Minister for planning Asad Umar expressed his support for fellow minister Murad Saeed.
“Murad Saeed will get more success inshallah, but if we do not stop such filth from TV then destruction will spread in the society,” Asad Umar tweeted.
Our Ministers sharing their views on the shameless conduct by Ghareeda Farooqi which has gathered outrage from all over Pakistan! #GForGhatya pic.twitter.com/ITnpJCeeUS
— PTI (@PTIofficial) February 12, 2022
Important to note, members of the journalistic community too condemned the statements made on the program. Leading journalist Mazhar Abbas stated that it is high time to revisit the fall of journalism in Pakistan.
Read more: Journalism: How a noble profession is disgraced
Meanwhile, another leading journalist Mubashir Zaidi said such kind of loose talk can never be classified as journalism.
It is high time to revisit the fall of journalism in Pakistan. https://t.co/rlGsZdS9us
— Mazhar Abbas (@MazharAbbasGEO) February 12, 2022
Ever since the show went on air, PTI’s official Twitter account has been sharing the achievements of Minister Murad Saeed to counter the criticism he currently receives.