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Journalists slam Murtaza Solangi for manhandling BBC reporter
Pakistan
 

Journalists slam Murtaza Solangi for manhandling BBC reporter

Solangi allegedly pushed Azhar's hand and said, "Do not act like paparazzi, act like a BBC journalist."
Journalists slam Murtaza Solangi for manhandling BBC reporter

Web Desk

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19 Feb 2024

The Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi, faced criticism for his mistreatment of a BBC journalist, Mobeen Azhar, who maintained that Solangi refused him an interview and manhandled him when he attempted to ask questions about journalist safety in Pakistan.

The BBC journalist Mobeen Azhar detailed the encounter with the caretaker minister by sharing a video on ‘X’, expressing disappointment over the minister's refusal to proceed with the previously agreed-upon interview.

As Azhar began the interview with the question, “Are you worried about the state interfering with journalists?" the minister angrily retorted that he could not be forced into an interview.

"We have a serious trust deficit with the BBC," the minister stated, to which the journalist assured him that his interview would be treated fairly and accurately.

Azhar persisted with questions regarding the alleged involvement of intelligence agencies in violence against journalists. However, Solangi became aggressive. 

He allegedly pushed Azhar's hand and said, "Do not act like paparazzi, act like a BBC journalist."

The minister denied agreeing to a specific interview time, but the journalist countered, "Yes you did, 6 o’clock Wednesday."

Solangi moved on without addressing Azhar's further questions about accountability for journalists facing violence in Pakistan. Dejected by the minister's dismissive behaviour, the BBC reporter said that Solangi avoided the questions "likely due to pressure from other sources."

Journalists denounced Solangi’s behavior as unprofessional and authoritarian, given his own background of journalism.

“Murtaza Solangi. This guy sat around giving lectures on human rights, and constantly crying over Bhutto. Actually, that computes. Anyone who defends Bhutto’s reign can only be a thug,” journalist Sabahat Zakria wrote on ‘X’.

Anchorperson Fereeha Idrees stated, “What issues interim government has with the @bbc? This is not looking good at all. How can you manhandle a reporter?”

https://twitter.com/Fereeha/status/1759155670828667352?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

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