PM Imran refutes ‘pathetic’ smear campaign targeting first lady

Certain elements resorted to ‘cheap tactics’ by dragging an apolitical woman into politics, says Farrukh Habib

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed dismay over malicious social media campaign targeting the premier and First Lady Bushra Bibi and termed it “pathetic and intolerable”.

The premier expressed these view while chairing a Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting of the ruling PTI in Islamabad on Monday, sources told The Express Tribune on Monday.

“Unchecked media freedom is devastating and such smear campaigns targeting personal lives should be discouraged,” the premier was quoted as saying during the meeting.

The PM was referring to the recent report published in an English weekly which indirectly implied that Premier Imran and his wife had developed differences and the first lady had been living with her friend in Lahore.

The PTI leaders have rubbished reports about personal issues between PM Imran and his wife.

Minister for State for Information Farrukh Habib said "certain quarters" were involved in spreading “fake news” regarding premier’s personal life.

Also read: Gill decries fake news about PM Imran, first lady marital issues

Without naming anyone, he called them to refrain from resorting to “cheap tactics” by dragging an apolitical woman into politics.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Shahbaz Gill said a legal action will be pursued against individuals propagating fake news.

"We are already contesting a case against [senior journalist] Najam Sethi for sharing fabricated news about the prime minister and his wife," Gill said on social media.

"You can do politics and journalism, but propagating fake news about family members who are not in politics will be dealt with in a court of law."

Farah Khan, a close friend of First Lady Bushra Bibi, on Sunday refuted rumours regarding any differences between PM Imran and his wife.

Taking to Twitter, she said that Bushra Bibi is living at Bani Gala, PM Imran’s residence in Islamabad, contrary to reports suggesting that she was staying at Farah Khan’s residence. “Fake propaganda was being spread about the couple,” she added.

جھوٹ پر مبنی واٹس اپ میسیج کے ذریعے وزیراعظم اور خاتون اول کے خلاف پراپیگنڈا کیا جا رہا ہے۔ خاتون اول میرے گھر قطعا قیام پذیر نہیں اور بنی گالا اسلام آباد میں موجود ہیں۔ سیاست میں اتنا نیچے نہیں گرنا چاہیے کہ لوگوں کی ذاتی زندگیوں پر جھوٹ بولے جائیں.

— iam Farah Khan (@farahkhan_92) February 12, 2022