Asif, Fawad in verbal duel over ‘Hareem Shah’ videos

Science & technology minister had slapped a TV anchor for maligning him in his show

ISLAMABAD: Minster for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif on Monday traded barbs in the National Assembly over the issue of the former's alleged ‘indecent videos’.

Chaudhry on Sunday admitted slapping TV anchor Mubasher Lucman at a wedding for linking him with TikTok sensation Hareem Shah on his show.

Speaking in today’s NA session, Asif said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders had stooped so low in their enmity that they could not even refrain themselves from assassinating character of their political opponents. “You reap what you sow … they [PTI leaders] make hue and cry when someone disrespects them but nobody pays any heed when the same treatment is meted out to us.”

The senior PML-N leader said politicians were themselves their biggest enemy. “We humiliate each other on the floor of the House and use laws and institutions to malign each other,” he remarked.

“Fawad Chaudhry, who himself has worked as a TV anchor, should do soul searching as no one could protect themselves from his venomous talk in the last 15 years … we have surely stooped so low for petty political gains.”

Reacting to Asif’s remarks, the science and technology minister said he had never disrespected anyone in his news talk show. “How can those who assassinated character of [former PM] Benazir Bhutto, preach ethics to others,” he questioned.

Fawad Chaudhry slaps TV host over ‘Hareem Shah’ videos

Chaudhry said two days ago, a TV anchor claimed that he had seen several ‘indecent videos’ of him in possession of TikTok star Hareem Shah. “And when we demanded to present the videos, he said there is no such video … these people do such things for ratings,” he maintained.

He said a politician is representative of tens of thousands of people of his constituency, who would ask questions when such scandals surface against their representative.

Commenting on video scandals involving PTI ministers, Chaudhry said a special parliamentary committee should be formed to look into the matter. He also questioned as to why the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and FIA’s cybercrime wing were silent on the issue.

Earlier on Sunday, Chaudhry flayed Lucman, calling him a “sham journalist” in a tweet after reports of the slapping incident at a wedding went viral on social media.

Chaudhry retweeted a news article on the altercation with the caption, “People like Mubashir Lucman have nothing to do with journalism … and it’s everyone’s duty to expose him,” he wrote.

مبشر لقمان جیسے لوگوں کا صحافت سے کوئ تعلق نہیں یہ وہ طوائفیں ہیں جوصحافت میں گھس گئ ہیں، ایسے صحافتی دلالوں کو بے نقاب کرنا سب کا فرض ہے۔ https://t.co/5YQhc8eQMK

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) January 5, 2020

The altercation between Chaudhry and Lucman took place at the wedding of Punjab Irrigation Minister Mohsin Laghari’s son in Lahore, where a large number of journalists and members of the ruling party were present.

This is not the first time that the federal minister has settled a score with a TV anchorperson in such a manner. In June last year, Chaudhry had slapped TV host Sami Ibrahim at a wedding.

Ibrahim had claimed that ‘certain quarters’ within the ruling party were conspiring against Prime Minster Imran Khan’s government and the country’s armed forces.

Hareem Shah made headlines in October last year after she uploaded a short video clip in which she can be seen roaming around the conference room at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It stirred up a storm with even Prime Minister Imran ordering a probe of how Hareem was allowed into the consular-only premises and given the access and support required to record a video that, as expected, went viral.

Last month, she also shared an “indecent video call”, purportedly from a cabinet minister in which the she be seen speaking to the federal minister. She can be heard saying: “Listen to me, have I ever revealed anything of yours until now? Then why don’t you talk to me anymore?”


VIDEO COURTESY: SAMAA TV