Punjab senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb calls the attack on Khanzada a reflection of mob mentality
This still from a video on social media shows anchor Shahzeb Khanzada being confronted — Photo via X
Anchor personality Shahzeb Khanzada was publicly confronted by a man who accused him of reporting against PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, a video circulating on social media shows. Khanzada, accompanied by his family, did not engage and walked away.
Several political figures and journalists condemned the incident. Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb described the confrontation as unacceptable, while PPP leader and Sindh Energy Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah called for differences to be expressed respectfully. MQM-P Senator Faisal Subzwari also criticized the incident.
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The incident took place two days after The Economist published a piece examining Imran Khan’s marriage to Bushra Bibi and her role in his decision-making during his tenure as prime minister, which the party dismissed as recycled propaganda amounting to foreign commentary.
Many social media users expressed support for Khanzada and described the incident as unacceptable.
Punjab senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb criticized the behavior and said it reflected a “mob mentality” within the PTI. She added that such actions lacked basic decency and civility and amounted to intimidation rather than political expression.
Shameful harassment of @shazbkhanzdaGEO and his wife another dirty reminder of the mob mentality that Imran Khan has carefully bred within the PTI. This crowd does not lack manners, they were never taught dignity, decency or basic humanity. Their entire existence lives on…
— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) 17 November 2025
Journalists including Waseem Abbasi, Ziauddin Yousafzai, Asad Ali Toor, Matiullah Jan, Zahid Gishkori, Faizan Lakhani and Asma Shirazi expressed concern over the harassment, calling it inappropriate and unacceptable.
Pakistan Daily founder Hamza Azhar Salam noted that PTI had not pursued a defamation case against Khanzada and that the confrontation took place in public.
Responding to the X, Khanzada defended his reporting on the Iddat case, noting that his coverage had also highlighted Shahbaz Gill’s detention under treason-related laws.
Read more: Prime Minister rejects violence against journalists
“This is disgusting and completely reprehensible,” said Ziauddin Yousafzai, father of Nobel laureate Malala Yousufzai.
This is disgusting and completely reprehensible. Bullying someone in public is shameful harassment. Shahzeb Khanzada is an honorable man and an excellent journalist.
This incident reveals the ugly face and behavior of an intolerant sect. Great respect for…
— Ziauddin Yousafzai (@ZiauddinY) 16 November 2025
“Khanzada is an honorable man and an excellent journalist. This incident exposes the ugly face and behavior of an intolerant cult,” he said.
