Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal faced a brief disruption during a live interview on ARY News’ program 11th Hour on Thursday night. The incident sparked widespread discussion on social media.
The minister was appearing via video link and discussing potential talks between the government and the opposition. During the live broadcast, the audio was interrupted by an unidentified voice shouting, “Shut this,” before the video call was abruptly cut off.
The host, Waseem Badami, expressed concern on air, saying, “I hope everything is well. I don’t know what just happened.” The interruption lasted only a short time, as Ahsan Iqbal rejoined the program and reassured viewers that everything was fine.
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لائیو پروگرام کے دوران وفاقی وزیر احسن اقبال سے کسی نے زبردستی ویڈیو بند کروا دی۔ حیران کن مناظر pic.twitter.com/HwhSVPFiRl
Following the broadcast, the minister clarified the situation on X, writing, “A brief disruption occurred during a live broadcast when someone nearby having an argument was unaware that I was live on air. I rejoined the interview shortly afterward. I hope we can avoid unnecessary politicisation of this.”
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also confirmed the explanation, stating, “Yes, I also spoke to him. Kids came into the study running unexpectedly. All is well and he has rejoined the show.”
Journalist Ajmal Jami added that he spoke with Ahsan Iqbal, who explained that a family gathering was taking place at his Islamabad residence when children unexpectedly entered his study. He rejoined the interview shortly afterward.
The incident quickly gained attention online, with many users speculating about potential political motives. However, officials and the minister himself emphasized that the disruption was purely accidental and related to the presence of children at his home.
Despite the interruption, Ahsan Iqbal continued his discussion on the program, focusing on ongoing political developments and the possibility of dialogue between the government and opposition parties.
The brief disruption at a live broadcast highlights the challenges of remote interviews, especially when conducted from personal spaces. Authorities and the minister called for avoiding politicization and maintaining focus on the issues discussed.
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The live broadcast concluded without further interruptions, and viewers were able to hear Ahsan Iqbal’s insights on political dialogue and national planning matters.
