Gharidah Farooqi, a prominent Pakistani female journalist and TV anchorperson has been the target of malicious online harassment campaign for sharing a post on her Twitter about the Christchurch attack in New Zealand.

Farooqi, who hosts political talk-show ‘G for Gharidha’ on Aaj News television channel is facing online harassment since she tweeted a year old picture of the Christchurch mosque attacker Brenton Tarrant visiting Pakistan.

The anchorperson was called a traitor and faced sexual harassment, character assassination and was even threatened with murder.

Farooqi tweeted that, “Legal action should be taken against the abusers, those doing on someone else’s behest should know they cannot bully, harass or threaten women, especially not me.” She has reported the matter to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The anchorperson in letters to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan and Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry demanded security but till now she has not received any response government, nor has she been provided any security.

Talking to Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), the President of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), G.M. Jamali condemned the online harassment of Farooqi and said PFUJ will support journalists who face online harassment to take legal actions against those responsible.  PFUJ also called on government to immediately investigate this matter and punish those responsible for threatening journalist.

The Coalition for Women in Journalism (CFWIJ) also condemned the ongoing online harassment campaign against Farooqi and urged the concerned authorities to take immediate action and provide safety to the journalist. Kiran Nazish, Director of CFWIJ said, “Women journalists would never back down. These trolls as horrible as they are, won’t deter our colleague and member Farooqi from doing her work.”