Islamabad, November 17, 2025: Prominent journalist Shahzeb Khanzada faced public harassment by a man accusing him of acting against PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, prompting widespread condemnation from politicians, journalists, and media figures.
Videos circulating on social media show the man confronting Khanzada in a clothing store, telling him he should be “ashamed” of his reporting. Khanzada, accompanied by his family, did not engage and walked away. The alleged confrontation came days after The Economist published an article discussing Imran Khan’s marriage and Bushra Bibi’s influence, which PTI described as recycled propaganda.
PTI’s Shahbaz Gill shared an old clip of Khanzada discussing the Iddat case, filed against Bushra Bibi and Imran Khan by her former husband Khawar Maneka, claiming the journalist had acted against the couple. Khanzada responded on X, accusing Gill of lying and emphasizing that he had responsibly reported court proceedings.
The incident drew strong reactions from political and media figures. Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb condemned it as a “filthy reminder of the mob mentality Imran Khan has carefully bred within PTI,” calling the behaviour “brute thuggery masquerading as activism.”
PPP leader Syed Nasir Hussain Shah stressed that disagreements must remain “within the bounds of decency and respect,” while MQM-P Senator Faisal Subzwari said the incident highlighted the toxic culture cultivated in politics over the past decade.
Journalists also voiced support. Waseem Abbasi called it harassment, Ziauddin Yousafzai termed it “disgusting and utterly condemnable,” and Asad Ali Toor described it as a “shameful campaign” against Khanzada. Matiullah Jan said Imran’s supporters should understand that harassing a journalist in front of family is unacceptable, while Zahid Gishkori called it “extremely painful” to witness.
Sports journalist Faizan Lakhani said, “Harassing someone in a public place is not freedom of expression, it’s intimidation and thuggery,” and journalist Asma Shirazi condemned the “targeted harassment” as fascism.
Hamza Azhar Salam, founder of The Pakistan Daily, criticized PTI for not pursuing defamation in court and instead allegedly sending workers to intimidate Khanzada.
The Iddat case, in which Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were sentenced to seven years in February 2024 before later being acquitted, remains a sensitive topic for the party and its supporters. Khanzada has emphasized that his reporting has always adhered to court proceedings and journalistic responsibility.
The incident has sparked a wider debate on press freedom, political intolerance, and the safety of journalists in Pakistan.
