PTI Event
Journalists boycotted a press conference held by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders in Islamabad on Friday, seizing the microphones on the table in protest against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s disparaging remarks about the media fraternity.
The incident stemmed from comments made by Gandapur at a rally in Sangjani, Islamabad, the previous week, which many in the media found offensive and unacceptable.
The press conference, which featured PTI leaders Salman Akram Raja, Senator Shibli Faraz, and party member Raoof Hasan, quickly descended into chaos. Journalists in attendance, who had come to cover the event, interrupted the proceedings by picking up the microphones in front of the speakers.
Despite Raja’s assurances that Gandapur would clarify his statements and explain the context, the journalists were unwilling to relent, insisting that the remarks were uncalled for and required immediate redress.
Raja attempted to distance the PTI leadership from Gandapur’s remarks, saying, “What Gandapur said has nothing to do with our politics.”
However, this failed to appease the frustrated journalists, who had already felt slighted by Gandapur’s words and the lack of an immediate apology or explanation from PTI leadership.
The controversy erupted on September 8 during a PTI rally at Sangjani, where Chief Minister Gandapur made statements that were perceived as derogatory towards journalists.
Following the backlash, several PTI leaders were prompted to issue apologies to the media. A day after the rally, journalists staged a walkout from the press gallery in Parliament as a form of protest against Gandapur’s statements.
In an attempt to manage the situation, PTI leaders Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz tried to calm the disgruntled journalists, but tensions remained high.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan also weighed in on the issue, condemning Gandapur’s remarks and labeling them as “inappropriate.” Despite Khan’s intervention, the outrage among journalists persisted, leading to further tensions between the media and the party.
During the disrupted press conference, Salman Akram Raja took the opportunity to highlight recent controversial police actions, questioning the state of law and order.
He cited examples where individuals’ homes were raided without due process, and people were not presented at police stations. “What must be the condition of that person?” Raja asked, pointing to what he described as unprecedented actions by the authorities.
The situation escalated earlier when Shibli Faraz made remarks that further agitated the protesting journalists. Unable to control the growing discontent, the PTI leaders were forced to cut their press conference short.
Before leaving, Raja assured the media representatives that he would personally address the matter with Gandapur and sought to emphasize the “vital role” journalists play in democracy, highlighting their struggles and the importance of their work in conveying important messages to the public.
Despite the assurances, the journalists’ protest reflects the ongoing strain in relations between the media and the PTI, particularly in light of recent remarks by party leaders that have been perceived as hostile or dismissive.
The incident underscores the challenges faced by political parties in managing their public image and relationships with the press, especially in a highly polarized political environment.
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