PFUJ demands public apology from Faisal Vawda for threats to journalists

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) on Friday noted with deep concern the foul language used by Federal Minster for Water Resources Faisal Vawda on social media against renowned journalists, including Wusatullah Khan, Zarrar Khurro, Mubashir Zaidi, Fakhar Durrani, and Umar Cheema and demanded a public apology from the minister.

President PFUJ Shahzada Zulfiqar and Secretary General Nasir Zaidi in a joint statement said that shocking behaviour was displayed by a public office holder and elected representative.

The Journalist union has also requested Prime Minister Imran Khan to probe his behaviour, as "he has become a liability for the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)", according to the statement.

Read more: Questions that vex Faisal Vawda

“He threatened senior journalists, who were only performing their professional duties by asking for a probe into the minister’s alleged acquiring of assets illegally along with his US nationality. Instead of responding in a civil manner, he threatened and used foul language,” it added.

Vawda lands in hot waters

The federal minister landed in hot waters on Tuesday night after he hurled abuses and used foul language against a few renowned journalists.

According to a news report published in The News, Faisal Vawda broke his silence after almost 20 months after being persistently approached by Fakhar Durrani for a comment. The investigative reporter for The News had been after him since November 2018, with the intention to ask pertinent questions which Vawda doesn’t want to be asked.

After deciding to respond through Twitter to the journalist, he behaved like a bully instead of acting like a federal minister. He attempted to berate and belittle Durrani, who dug into his past which is riddled with fraud allegations, financial malpractices, concealment of foreign properties and forgery in documents of citizenship, among others.