BBC Urdu journalist's article criticising Pakistan's economic condition earns wrath of Imran ministers

In the article, Shirazi criticised the government without naming it or any individual, including the prime minister’s wife.

The article, however, said the economy cannot be fixed by “slaughtering of goats” or “spilling the blood of pigeons”, reports Dawn News.

Attacking the journalist, Minister for Ports and Shipping Ali Haider Zaidi tweeted: "I usually refrain from commenting on such nonsense but you’ve crossed the line! Behaviour usually shows character & mindset. Sadly, yours is clearly visible in the language of your tweet & your oped! Disgusting for lack of a better word."

Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar posted: "Sad to see @BBCUrdu allowing their platform for such pathetic insinuations."

Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari also reacted against the article and said: "Actually I have maintained for a long time that BBC is a closet Bharat Broadcasting Corporation!they would run strategically placed Indian Army ads during Kargil at peak times!! Sad to see @asmashirazi  reduce herself to such pathetic and downright low life writing!"

However, Belgium-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), which has over 50,000 twitter followers and claims to be the global voice of journalists representing 600,000 journalists in 146 countries, asked Mazari to  apologise for her remarks.

"#Pakistan: Pakistan’s minister for Human Rights attacked journalist 
@asmashirazi on Twitter after she had issued a column on the country's economic difficulties. We urge her to apologise for harassing and targeting a journalist for simply doing her job," IFJ tweeted.

Mazari, however, responded and said, "I stand by my right to respond to
@asmashirazi- no abusive language was used nor was it an "attack"! Absurd to paint it as such. I have a right to respond & critique without abuse. There is nothing to apologise about. Perhaps she shd apologise for unsubstantiated allusions made! "