Minister accuses Dawn of being part of conspiracy against Pakistan

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 2 September 2021

Fawad Chaudhry has accused the Dawn newspaper of participating in a conspiracy against Pakistan, claiming it highlights negative issues to damage the country's image. His comments arose during a discussion about the safety of journalists in Islamabad.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has accused English daily Dawn being a part of an international conspiracy against Pakistan.

Talking to anchor Absa Komal during a show on DawnNews TV, the minister said, “Unfortunately Dawn newspaper actively participates in an international conspiracy hatched to malign the image of Pakistan.”

According to him, various issues like freedom of expression and FATF are unnecessarily highlighted by the paper in a bid to ‘activate’ international community. “Such issues are deliberately hyped to show that things are bad in Pakistan,” the minister said.

Interestingly, Chaudhry expressed these views when he was asked by the host to give an update on the probe into attacks on journalists in Islamabad.

Several social media users criticized the minister’s statement, saying that he was trying to justify violent attacks on media persons by levelling unfounded allegations.

KEY POINTS:

• Fawad Chaudhry criticized Dawn for alleged conspiracy against Pakistan.
• He claims the paper amplifies issues like freedom of expression.
• Chaudhry connected the newspaper's reporting to international actions.
• Social media users condemned his remarks as justifying attacks on media.
• The minister's comments were made during a TV interview.