Reporter in trouble for publishing fake news about minister
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 26 March 2017
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A journalist named Shabir Siham faces charges for publishing false reports about G-B's Minister Iqbal Hasan. The minister accused Siham of blackmailing him.Summary
ISLAMABAD – The Gilgit-Baltistan Police have booked a reporter for publishing fake news about the region’s minister whom he attempted to blackmail.
The Express Tribune reported Sunday the journalist named Shabir Siham published news reports in English and Urdu newspapers in November and March against G-B’s Minister for Information and Planning, Iqbal Hasan.
He accused the minister of supplying girls from the region to influential people, the paper reported.
In a FIR, the minister said: “When I spoke to him he demanded Rs5 million as part of a deal to settle the matter. He also threatened me with dire consequences if I failed to provide (the money).”
The stories that the journalist did went viral on social media.
A police party from Gilgit-Baltistan arrived in Islamabad Saturday to apprehend the reporter.
Siham is originally from Baltistan but is currently based in Islamabad.
Image: Shutterstock
KEY POINTS:
- Reporter Shabir Siham booked by Gilgit-Baltistan Police.
- Accused minister of supplying girls to influential figures.
- Siham allegedly demanded Rs5 million in blackmail.
- Reports published in English and Urdu went viral.
- Police arrived from Gilgit-Baltistan to arrest him.
