Journalists make fun of minister's clarification on Dr. Farrukh Saleem

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 3 January 2019

In response to Dr. Farrukh Saleem's viral interview, journalists have ridiculed Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry's attempt to clarify Saleem's role. The incident has sparked discussions about the government's economic measures and media strategies.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: A number of journalists have made fun of clarification by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry (pictured) regarding Dr. Farrukh Saleem, saying he is not the government’s spokesman.

An interview of Dr. Farrukh Saleem on Hum News TV has gone viral on social media in which he seems to be admitting that the government’s measures to steer the economy out of the current crisis are not working.

Business and economy journalist Khurram Husain, who criticized the PTI government in his column on Thursday, simply commented on Twitter: “Fawad yaar, yeh comedy ka waqt nahi hai.”

For Cyril Almeida of Dawn, Saleem’s effort to become finance minister had been foiled. “Translation: Asad Umar still has the PM's confidence, Saleem Farrukh's attempted putsch has failed...”

However, Talat Aslam of The News saw the clarification in a different light. “Fawwad Chaudhry's disowning of Farrukh Saleem as a spokesman is not a U-turn but part of a brilliant new media strategy to keep members on their toes. Any minister, advisor or spokesperson who gives an unsatisfactory interview will immediately cease to have ever been appointed.”

Columnist Gul Bukhari, a critic of PTI government, simply laughed at the clarification. “Hahahahaha now Govt disowns its own spokesperson on Economy.”

Zarrar Khuhro who appears on DawnNews TV made fun of the information minister’s effort at disowning Dr. Farrukh. “This is the most media-friendly govt i have ever seen...no one has ever provided us more free content that this one!”

KEY POINTS:

• Fawad Chaudhry claims Dr. Farrukh Saleem is not a government spokesperson.
• Saleem admits in a viral interview that economic measures are failing.
• Journalists publicly mock the government's communications strategy.
• Talat Aslam interprets Chaudhry's disowning as a media strategy.
• Critics express disbelief at the government's handling of economic communication.