The National Assembly (NA) on Monday adopted a resolution condemning PTI founder Imran Khan for his alleged mistreatment of senior journalist Ijaz Ahmed during court proceedings at Adiala Jail. The move came after members of the Parliamentary Reporters Association of Pakistan (PRA) staged a walkout from the assembly session in protest against the incident.
According to reports, Ijaz Ahmed informed NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and other parliamentary leaders that the PTI founder used abusive language against him when he asked a question. In response, the PRA Election Committee, led by Chairman Tariq Sameer, submitted a formal request to the speaker and insisted on a walkout during the session to record their protest.
Speaker Sadiq termed the behavior condemnable and referred the matter to Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar. He remarked that levelling accusations and issuing threats had become the hallmark of the PTI founder. Later, the House suspended rules to table a resolution condemning the act. The resolution instructed the interior ministry to ensure security for Ijaz Ahmed and directed the Cybercrime Wing to take action against those spreading threats on social media. It emphasized that the journalist was not only subjected to inappropriate remarks at Adiala Jail but was also targeted with online intimidation afterwards.
The resolution declared: “This House condemns the inappropriate language and threats directed at the journalist in Adiala Jail.” However, PTI lawmakers opposed the resolution. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali stated that his party had always respected the media’s role in raising public issues and had supported journalists in the past, particularly during debates on the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca). He argued that PTI did not have clear knowledge of what had happened inside the jail but maintained that the party valued its relationship with journalists.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, while speaking on the NA floor, described the incident as “unfortunate” and condemned the threatening online campaign targeting Ijaz Ahmed. He warned that such actions endangered lives and undermined democracy. “This House must set an example of tolerance. Politics and civility go together, and disagreements should be resolved through dialogue, not abuse,” the minister said. He stressed that intimidation instead of debate could weaken democratic norms and urged all parties to work together to protect press freedom and ensure the dignity of journalists.
PPP leader Shazia Marri also strongly condemned the mistreatment and subsequent online harassment of Ijaz Ahmed, calling it a serious matter requiring urgent attention. She praised his decades-long career and commitment to professional ethics, noting that even when politicians disagreed with his reporting, his integrity was widely respected. She raised concerns over the circulation of his picture on social media along with incitement to hate, calling it irresponsible and dangerous. “Journalism is not a crime. Media workers must be given the space to perform their duties responsibly,” she asserted.
The resolution has once again highlighted growing concerns over the treatment of journalists in Pakistan, with lawmakers stressing that freedom of the press is central to strengthening democracy and preventing abuse of power.