ISLAMABAD: The Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has called for a special committee of the National Assembly to investigate the ‘immoral videos’ allegations levelled in a web channel show by Mubasher Lucman and another anchorperson against two cabinet members.

The demand was made on Monday during the NA session that witnessed a debate over why only politicians remained ‘soft target’ of ‘baseless’ allegations by the media, as a lawmaker of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz reminded the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader of his TV discussions before being elected to the house.

In a tweet, one of the two anchorpersons, Rai Saqib Kharal, apologised for the allegations that he said were the result of some ‘misunderstanding’. He tweeted that the families and personal conduct of anyone “should not have been subject of journalistic discussions, my sincere apologies to Fawad Ch and others”.

Recently, Mr Lucman and Mr Saqib in their show claimed to have alleged obscene video clips of Mr Fawad and another member.

A day later, Mr Fawad slapped Mr Lucman at a wedding ceremony after the anchorperson upon a query admitted that he was not in possession of any such videos but had heard about them.

Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly on a point of order, Mr Fawad said: “These are baseless allegations that need to be probed by a special committee of the NA. The committee should also ascertain why laws of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority and the Federal Investigation Agency are silent on such matters.”

The minister said: “The judiciary and the army have their own systems, but politicians are the most vulnerable segment of society standing at a square where anybody can attack them. Earlier, there was a race for [TV] ratings, but now the curse of YouTube channel has started.”

The Minister of State for Climate Change, Zartaj Gul, said such baseless allegations were levelled against her because she was a woman.

“Show if you have such videos otherwise cybercrime laws should come into action,” she said, adding that she and other lawmakers were not “soft targets, but daughters of the nation”.

PML-N leader Khawaja Asif said the PTI leader was “reaping the bitter harvest that he had sowed”. The video scandal should be referred to the ethics committee instead of any new panel, he said, adding that lawmakers themselves were responsible for using institutions to target political opponents.

Meanwhile, Mr Fawad and Mr Lucman filed applications against each other over the incident at the wedding. The Lahore Model Town police said probe into the allegations had been initiated and action would be taken on its findings.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2020