On November 16, Shah wrote on X that an account followed by Tarar had “made an AI video of me.” The video was shared by an account called PakVocals, with a description falsely claiming it was a “leaked video” of Shah “dancing in a club in London.” She added, “But as we’ve said before, we’ll say it again: #AttacksWontSilenceUS.”
Responding to her post, Tarar said, “Totally unacceptable and highly condemnable. Notice taken, please.” He added, “Nobody has the right to make fake videos and then disseminate them or try to harass any journalist by defaming them. I follow more than 1900 accounts. I do not condone the behaviour of this account and also assure you that action will be taken.”
Shah later said she appreciated the minister’s response, stating, “I appreciate the information minister taking this matter seriously.” However, she said she did not wish to pursue a case under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act through the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, explaining, “Doing so would lend legitimacy to a law and an institution that have been used to harass journalists, silence private citizens, and suppress dissent.” She added that if the government was serious about ensuring safety, “they should scrap Peca and the NCCIA and begin a genuine consultation process to draft legislation that truly addresses journalists’ concerns.”
Journalist Meher Bokhari, referring to the video and a separate incident involving another journalist, said, “This is not who we were meant to become,” and called for respect toward journalists. She noted that targeted individuals “have dedicated their lives to informing the public despite constant pressure” and stressed the importance of maintaining values and respect.
