Islamabad: On September 29, the National Assembly of Pakistan passed a resolution condemning the alleged verbal abuse of senior journalist Ijaz Ahmed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. The incident reportedly occurred during a court hearing at Adiala Jail, leading to significant backlash from journalist associations and political figures alike. 

The Parliamentary Reporters Association of Pakistan (PRA) initiated a mass walkout from the National Assembly session in protest of the alleged mistreatment of Ahmed. According to Ahmed, Imran Khan used abusive language when he posed a question during an interaction at the jail. The PRA’s Election Committee, headed by Chairman Tariq Sameer, formally requested the walkout, and a written complaint was submitted to the National Assembly Speaker, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. 

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) reiterates the need for political parties to enforce a code of conduct for engaging with media professionals to prevent violence against journalists. Such codes of conduct should be implemented by top-level party leadership who can set the tone for engagements with the media and emphasize their committment to press freedom and media safety. 

In response to the protest, Speaker Sadiq directed Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar to address the issue with the PRA. Tarar acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations, stating: “It is the job of reporters and journalists to criticise us and show us our reflection in the mirror. We should take this criticism to heart and not silence or attack them.” He further emphasized the need for democratic behavior within the House, urging members to respect differing opinions. 

The resolution passed by the National Assembly condemned both the inappropriate language used against Ahmed and the subsequent social media threats he faced. It called for the provision of security to Ahmed and urged the Cybercrime Wing to act against those responsible for the online threats. PTI legislators, however, opposed the resolution, with PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan expressing the party’s respect for the media’s role in public discourse. 

Shazia Marri of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) described Ahmed as a journalist with a commendable record of professional ethics. “We may have differences of opinion, but in terms of his reporting and ethics, he is commendable,” Marri stated. She condemned the online harassment campaign targeting Ahmed, stressing the importance of press freedom and the safety of journalists. 

The National Press Club (NPC) also issued a statement condemning the alleged misbehavior, calling it an attack on press freedom and demanding an apology from the PTI leadership. NPC President Azhar Jatoi and other officials reiterated their stance on maintaining the dignity and independence of journalism in Pakistan. 

Ejaz Ahmed later addressed the National Assembly, recounting his visit to Adiala Jail at the speaker’s request and detailing his interaction with Imran Khan. He mentioned Khan’s demands for a resolution regarding the absence of PTI members in an opposition delegation. 

Earlier this month, Bol News reporter Tayyab Baloch faced a violent attack outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi during a media talk by Aleema Khan, Imran Khan’s sister. Other journalists present, including GNN’s Ijaz Ahmed and News One Faisal Hakeem, attempted to save him but were also attacked.