ARY alleges Bilawal response to a question was pre-planned

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 26 April 2019

ARY News has alleged that a question during Bilawal Bhutto's press conference was pre-planned, with a scripted response provided beforehand. This incident raises concerns about the authenticity of political press interactions.

Summary

ISLAMABAD - ARY News Television on Friday alleged that the last question at a presser of Pakistan People’s Party Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto (pictured) outside the National Assembly was pre-planned with a written answer already prepared.

The news clip on ARY News starts with the allegation that a reporter of a “favorite” channel was allowed to ask a pre-planned question. Further, a written answer was placed before Bilawal which he read out.

Bilawal addressed the press conference on Thursday.

ARY News said that the three PPP leaders – Senator Sherry Rehman, and MNAs Nafisa Shah and Naz Baloch – coaxed the reporter named Arshad to ask the question. As there was some noise, Bilawal asks in English, “Who is Arshad?” Once he identifies the reporter, he addresses him as “Arshad Bhai.”

The reporter asks Bilawal what he thinks about the prime minister as a selected choice and his views about those who allegedly brought Imran Khan to the Prime Minister House.

After the question was asked, ARY News claims Bilawal read a written answer. In his response, Bilawal addresses the prime minister asking “if he liked the finger of the umpire.”

Addressing the alleged backers, he asked if they liked the tabeeli. “I ask those who have brought him (the PM) to power: are you enjoying this tabdeeli (change)?”