PUJ backs minister; calls Mubasher Lucman a blackmailer

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 6 January 2020

The Punjab Union of Journalists has expressed support for Minister Fawad Chaudhry in his conflict with broadcaster Mubasher Lucman. They called Lucman a blackmailer and disputed his claims of being a journalist.

Summary

LAHORE—The Punjab Union of Journalists on Monday backed Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry, in his tussle with Mubasher Lucman (pictured), calling the anchor a blackmailer.

In a joint statement, PUJ President Ijaz Khokhar and Secretary Syed Asif Ilyas termed Lucman, a self-claimed journalist. The statement in Urdu said Lucman is known for making unsubstantiated allegations and he is not a journalist, rather a blackmailer. The minister tweeted the PUJ statement.

The altercation between the minister and the anchorperson took place at the wedding ceremony of Punjab Irrigation Minis­ter Mohsin Leghari’s son.

According to Dawn, “The physical altercation was apparently over a video Luqman uploaded on his YouTube channel in which he and anchorperson Rai Saqib discussed TikTok stars Hareem Shah and Sandal Khattak, and videos allegedly involving Chaudhry and Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan.”

They said what happened at the marriage ceremony is a dispute between two individuals and has nothing to do with the profession of journalism or freedom of expression. “Journalists have nothing to do with this incident and they are also not divided on this issue.”

Photo: Twitter (@mubasherlucman)

KEY POINTS:

• PUJ backs Fawad Chaudhry against Mubasher Lucman.
• Lucman labeled as a blackmailer by PUJ officials.
• The dispute arose at a wedding ceremony.
• Chaudhry tweeted the PUJ's statement.
• Incident does not reflect journalism or freedom of expression.