ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information, Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday vowed stern action against trolls who recently targeted senior journalists, Benazir Shah and Shahzeb Khanzada.
During a Television show with a senior journalist, Asma Shirazi, aired on Tuesday evening, senior journalist Asma Shirazi confronted Information Minister Atta Tarar over the circulation of an AI-generated video targeting journalist Benazir Shah, which she alleged was produced and disseminated by the PML-N’s troll brigade.
However, Mr Tarar denied the allegation, saying, “We do not have a troll brigade.”
Shirazi countered, claiming evidence had surfaced linking the content to PML-N-affiliated accounts.
In a reply, Tarar said that if such a group existed, he would not have apologised to journalist Benazir Shah.
“I immediately condemned the incident and offered her legal action, which she chose not to pursue. Today, the same account publicly apologised to her on X,” he added.
Ms Shirazi then pressed the minister on the Shahzeb Khanzada harassment case in Canada, asking what action had been taken.
Tarar said, “For the past two days, a social media campaign has been running against you. Your hijab was targeted. PTI officials and former ministers were part of it. Have they, or the PTI leadership, apologised to you?”
Shirazi again sought clarity on the action taken in the case of Shahzeb Khanzada.
Minister of Information responded that the individual involved in the harassment of Shahzeb Khanzada is originally from Gujranwala, works as a real estate agent in Canada, and member of the PTI.
In a response to a journalist’s question, “Action will be taken according to the law. We intend to set an example. People in Gujranwala were charged and wanted to visit the accused’s house; we stopped them, saying this is not the right way.”
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