Gharidah Farooqi to Sue KP Chief Minister Over Defamatory Remarks
Journalist Gharidah Farooqi has announced her intent to pursue legal action against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur after he made serious accusations against her during a public rally. Gandapur accused Farooqi of accepting bribes to influence her reporting, a claim she firmly denies and challenges him to prove.
In response, Farooqi stated that these accusations are not only baseless but part of a larger pattern of attacks against female journalists in Pakistan. She emphasized that such rhetoric makes it increasingly difficult for women in journalism to perform their duties safely.
Gandapur, during a rally in Islamabad on September 8, labeled journalists as “sell-outs” and made particularly derogatory comments towards women in the media. These inflammatory remarks have been met with protests from the journalistic community. Reporters have boycotted PTI press conferences, citing concerns over their safety.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) strongly criticized Gandapur’s comments, labeling them part of a sustained defamatory campaign against media workers. PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari noted that such accusations, without any evidence, amount to character assassination, mainly targeting women in the profession. They stressed that political figures, including those from the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), should refrain from such tactics if they dislike tough questions from the media.
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