Live show incident twisted into propaganda against state institutions: Ahsan Iqbal

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has revealed details of an incident that occurred during a live television program two days ago, saying that a private family moment was deliberately turned into negative propaganda against state institutions.

In a detailed explanation, Ahsan Iqbal said he was participating in a live talk show on a private TV channel when his two sons got into a minor argument while playing a video game. Unaware that their father was on live television, the children entered the room during the disagreement, forcing the program to pause briefly.

The federal minister said the show resumed after about five minutes, and once the children realised they were on a live broadcast, they immediately became silent. He stressed that the incident was completely innocent and personal, contrary to the narrative being spread on social media.

Ahsan Iqbal said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) deliberately distorted the incident and attempted to link it with a hateful campaign against state institutions, including the Pakistan Army. He described it as an old tactic of the party to exploit private matters for political gain.

Recalling past events, the minister said that in 2018, a similar malicious campaign was launched against him, which eventually led to him being shot during an election campaign in Narowal. He said such incidents are the direct result of hate-driven propaganda.

Rejecting the reports circulating online, Ahsan Iqbal added that some political elements abroad also tried to associate the incident with state institutions, calling such claims baseless and contrary to facts. He urged the public not to believe unverified information spread on social media.

The federal minister said that propaganda against state institutions is condemnable and harmful to national unity, and called for such practices to be firmly discouraged in the interest of the country.