Politicians, journalists condemn harassment of journalist Shahzeb Khanzada

ISLAMABAD: Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and members of the media have strongly condemned the harassment of journalist and Geo News anchor Shahzeb Khanzada after a video of the incident went viral on social media.

The footage showed a man following Khanzada in what appeared to be a clothing store in London, accusing him of working against incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi. Khanzada, who was with his family, did not engage and walked away.

Marriyum Aurangzeb described the episode as “yet another filthy reminder of the mob mentality Imran Khan has bred within PTI,” saying the behaviour reflected “brute thuggery masquerading as activism.” She added that those responsible “feed on confrontation, chaos, and bullying.”

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan also condemned the harassment, joining a chorus of criticism from across political parties and civil society.

Journalists Waseem Abbasi, Asma Shirazi, and Zahid Gishkori called the act unacceptable. Shirazi described it as “targeted harassment inflicted by zombies of a political party,” while Gishkori said it was “extremely painful to see a stranger harassing Khanzada’s family.”

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar termed the incident “highly condemnable” and assured that the state would identify the harasser. “It cannot be that someone is with their family and is harassed,” he said on Geo News’ Naya Pakistan.

Khanzada, host of “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath” on Geo News, later posted a video saying the trolling was politically motivated. He noted that despite exposing the Iddat case, he had also publicly opposed the custodial torture of Shahbaz Gill and criticised the use of outdated treason laws against him.

Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi remain in jail after being convicted in the Iddat case on February 3, 2024, receiving seven-year jail terms each. Although acquitted in July last year, both were re-arrested over the alleged illegal sale of state gifts.