Since the advent of private news media in the country back in 2002, viewers of national television have, unfortunately, borne witness to numerous regrettable incidents on live shows.
These incidents often involve participants resorting to below-the-belt attacks, and at times, even descending into the use of profanity.
On certain occasions, these heated exchanges escalate to an alarming level, leading participants to physically confront each other—an unexpected and distressing turn of events for both the host and the production crew of a live program.
Recently, during his talk show "Kal Tak," anchor Javed Chaudhry found himself caught off guards when he invited PML-N Senator Afnan Ullah Khan and Sher Afzal Marwat, one of PTI Chairman Imran Khan's lawyers, as guests.
Chaudhry noted that altercation among participants in political talk shows has become somewhat of a norm, but he never anticipated that a verbal exchange between Afnan and Marwat would culminate in an actual physical fight.
A viral video clip of the incident, widely circulated on social media, captured Marwat launching an attack on Afnan, with the Senator responding by pushing the PTI lawyer out of the camera's view.
Supporters from both the PML-N and PTI camps sought to claim victory for their respective representatives in the skirmish, despite the major portion of the fight remaining obscured in the available video clips.
Both Senator Khan and PTI lawyer Marwat took to X, formerly Twitter, to present their accounts of the incident. Senator Khan asserted that Marwat had initiated the attack, but he had responded appropriately.
"While I firmly believe in non-violence, I am a dedicated soldier of Nawaz Sharif. The lesson that Marwat received is a critical reminder for all members of PTI, particularly Imran Khan. They won’t be able to show their faces and they would have to wear tinted glasses [to hide scars]," Senator Khan stated in a tweet.
On his YouTube channel, Javed Chaudhry claimed that Afnan had effectively subdued Marwat by bringing the situation under control.
In response, Marwat accused the TV host of spreading misinformation regarding the incident. He refuted claims that Khan had gained the upper hand during the scuffle.
"Afnan Ullah ran away from the studio and took refuge in a nearby room…I remained in the studio for approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Later, I was informed that the segment had been canceled, and I departed," Marwat explained.
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