News Desk
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has issued a strong condemnation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, following his recent accusations against anchorperson Gharida Farooqi. The PFUJ has demanded that Gandapur issue an unconditional apology for his remarks.
In a statement released on Saturday, PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari criticized the chief minister for what they described as an ongoing defamatory campaign against members of the media. They specifically highlighted Gandapur’s accusation that Farooqi had accepted a bribe, noting that no evidence had been provided to support the claim.
The PFUJ leaders emphasized that such allegations harm the reputation of journalists who are simply performing their duties, including posing difficult questions to politicians. “These accusations amount to character assassination,” they said.
The union also called on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to halt its alleged campaign of targeting journalists, particularly female media professionals. Butt and Ansari warned that if Gandapur does not retract his statement and apologize, the PFUJ may organize protests in response.
They further called for assurances from PTI leadership that party officials would refrain from such actions, which they warned could further erode the trust between the party and the media.
“PFUJ stands in complete solidarity with Gharida Farooqi and other female journalists who have been targeted,” the statement concluded, affirming the union’s commitment to defending press freedom and the rights of journalists to carry out their work without fear of reprisal.