Web Desk: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi faced a heated exchange with a journalist during a media interaction in Rawalpindi after being questioned about a political claim involving the size of a crowd.
Azaad Digital journalist Wasim Hashmi asked Afridi why political leaders were talking about bringing 2 million people to an event when, in the journalist’s words, they could not even gather 10,000 people.
Instead of directly addressing the question, Afridi asked Hashmi which media organisation he represented.
When the journalist identified himself as being from Azaad Digital, Afridi responded sharply and said he did not answer questions from the outlet.
The exchange shifted the focus from the political claim to the journalist and his organisation, leaving the original question unanswered.
Afridi’s response quickly drew attention because the journalist had asked about the basis for a claim regarding the expected size of a political gathering.
Rather than explaining how the figure of 2 million had been calculated or whether it represented a target, expectation or political estimate, the chief minister criticised the outlet.
The remarks came during a media interaction in Rawalpindi where several journalists were seeking answers from the provincial chief minister.
The latest confrontation was not the first reported instance of a tense exchange between PTI leaders and journalists from Azaad Digital.
According to the information provided, journalists including Tayyab Baloch and Amir Hashmi have previously faced critical remarks from some PTI leaders while asking questions during media interactions.
In those instances, critics have alleged that some political figures focused on the media organisation rather than responding directly to questions.
The latest exchange has again brought attention to the relationship between political leaders and journalists who challenge their claims.
The interaction also became tense as several journalists attempted to question Afridi.
According to the account provided, Afridi appeared to give priority to questions from YouTubers accompanying him, while journalists at the venue continued trying to secure an opportunity to ask questions.
At one point, a journalist told the chief minister that the scheduled meeting time had ended and questioned how the interaction could continue after the allotted time.
Afridi responded that he would answer questions from everyone present.
However, security personnel subsequently moved journalists back, disrupting the question-and-answer session.
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