Egg attack on Aleema Khan sparks outrage among journalists and politicians

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published 3 months ago |  JP Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Journalists and political figures strongly condemned an incident on Friday in which two women hurled an egg at Aleema Khan, the sister of incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Veteran journalist Nusrat Javeed urged an immediate end to such acts. “The practice must be stopped here and now. Otherwise, no person, even remotely connected to any politician would be able to walk without fear in our streets and roads,” he said.

Anchorperson Ajmal Jami called the act disgraceful. “The actions of those two women are condemnable and shameful,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Jami also alleged that police facilitated the attackers’ escape, sharing a photo of the car in which they fled. “The two women who threw an egg at Aleema Khan are fleeing in that Honda vehicle. According to available information, the license plate also appears to be fake. The officials’ delayed response raises questions as well.”

Journalist Fasi Zaka said the attack was especially disturbing because it occurred while Aleema Khan was speaking about the tragic Afghan earthquake. “It’s unearned arrogance. And arrogance that is borne of being the dominant power—not from genuine political difference,” he remarked. Zaka warned of the consequences if PTI supporters retaliated: “If even 0.01% of the PTI lot start doing this in retribution, no amount of politically committed or paid rabble rousers would be able to match it.”

Former minister Fawad Chaudhry described the incident as “beyond comprehension.” He added, “Targeting her will only further pollute the political atmosphere in Pakistan. It is beyond comprehension what such petty tactics are meant to achieve.”

Journalist Asad Ali Toor also condemned the act as “shameful and strongly condemnable.” Meanwhile, anchor Samina Pasha said Aleema Khan was being deliberately targeted: “The arrests of sons, the misconduct through so-called journalists, and now the egg-throwing—Aleema Khan is clearly unsettling the system, which is why she’s being targeted. If this trend is allowed to take root, who among the government figures will be able to step outside safely?”

Journalist Siddique Jan echoed claims that the attackers were aided in fleeing. Sharing a video, he questioned: “Were those men in uniform police officers? Who were the individuals that facilitated the attackers’ escape?”

Senior journalist Hamid Mir warned that such incidents will only deepen divisions. “This is a deeply regrettable act—it has taken the conflict in a new and troubling direction,” he said.