Islamabad – Federal Caretaker Minister of Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi is facing criticism after he was observed handling a BBC reporter roughly for asking challenging questions.

In a video shared on X by reporter Mobeen Azhar, the caretaker Information minister started manhandling the reporter when the BBC reporter began questioning media freedom in Pakistan.

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“Do you have concerns about the government getting involved with journalists?” Mobeen Azhar inquired. Instead of responding to the question, Murtaza Solangi accused the BBC journalist of pressuring him into an interview.

PK Minister for Information + Broadcasting refused to engage with allegations re: #pressfreedom in #Pakistan

‘Pakistan: Journalists Under Fire’ on @BBCWorld Check local listings for timings@ImranRiazKhan @AsadAToor@javerias @ImaanZHazir @MianAliAshfaq @murtazasolangi pic.twitter.com/pXORJauE3c

— Mobeen Azhar (@Mobeen_Azhar) February 18, 2024

Further into the video, the minister attempts to take the journalist’s phone and requests him to “behave like a BBC journalist and not Paparazzi.” Azhar also asked Solangi why he had approved the interview despite declining to respond to his queries.