TLP threatens Dawn journalist Nabeel Anwar Dhakku over Facebook posts

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published last year |  JP Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Nabeel Anwar Dhakku, a correspondent for Dawn newspaper in Chakwal district, has reported receiving threats from Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) after he posted on Facebook about the murder of a Qadiani doctor in Lala Musa and shared a video clip of a speech by Pir Zaheer ul Hassan Shah Bukhari outside Lahore Press Club.

Dhakku clarified the situation, emphasizing that neither the news about the doctor's murder nor the video clip were his original content, but both were removed by Facebook administration.

"Yesterday, I posted the news of a Qadiani doctor's murder in Lala Musa on Facebook, and today I shared a video clip of Pir Zaheer ul Hassan Shah Bukhari's speech outside Lahore Press Club. Both the news and the video clip were deleted by Facebook administration. The news of the Qadiani doctor's murder in Lala Musa was not my invention, nor was the video clip of Pir Zaheer ul Hassan Shah Bukhari mine. Yet, TLP workers labeled me a Qadiani," Dhakku explained in a Facebook post on Monday.

"In my fifteen years of journalism, this is the first time I have been accused of being a 'lifafa journalist.' This accusation deeply hurt me. Hafiz Muhammad Umar Naqshbandi, a TLP leader from Rabial village in Chakwal, falsely accused me during a protest outside Chakwal Press Club of supporting Qadianis in response to a recent Supreme Court decision. I have not written a single word about this decision. He also falsely accused me of supporting Qadianis during Eid al-Adha."

Dhakku clarified further that this impression was entirely wrong. "On Eid al-Adha, three Qadianis were detained in the village of Dulmial in Chakwal. As a journalist, I merely reported the incident based on the orders of the Deputy Commissioner of Chakwal and a press release issued by the spokesperson of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya. In that report, I clearly stated that under the 1973 Constitution, Qadianis are declared non-Muslims and cannot use Islamic symbols. My report included no personal opinion; I simply reported the incident."

Dhakku added that Hafiz Muhammad Umar Naqshbandi also threatened him, saying that if he did not stop, TLP members would 'update my software.' "As soon as I posted the clip of his speech on Facebook, it was removed by Facebook."

"The Constitution of Pakistan has declared Qadianis as non-Muslims, leaving no ambiguity. The same Constitution ensures the protection of minorities, which is a responsibility of the state of Pakistan. I believe in the supremacy of the Constitution. If anyone disagrees with the Constitution, they should seek an amendment. As Pakistanis, it is our duty to uphold the Constitution and the law of this country," he said.

"May Allah grant us the strength and courage to walk the path of truth and give us the ability to investigate before accusing anyone."