The world of journalism, often seen as a bastion of professionalism and integrity, was recently jolted by an unseemly public altercation between two Pakistani journalists in the heart of London.
What was meant to be a routine press conference of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja descended into chaos as Safina Khan and Asad Ali Malik, two well-known figures in the Pakistani media diaspora, hurled abuses at each other, igniting a fiery scene that has since gone viral across social media platforms.
The incident, captured on camera, sparked massive debate both in Pakistan and among the Pakistani diaspora in the UK, raising troubling questions about media ethics, personal security, and political polarization.
The shocking video of the altercation, now circulating widely online, shows Safina Khan and Asad Ali Malik shouting profanities at each other while others present at the scene attempt to deescalate the confrontation.
The event, held at a London café and organized to host Salman Akram Raja, a senior figure in PTI and a close ally of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, turned into a battleground of verbal warfare. What should have been an opportunity for serious journalism and political inquiry ended up as a public spectacle of personal and professional breakdown.
The Altercation: How It Unfolded in the London Café
The confrontation erupted when Safina Khan, attending the press event in her journalistic capacity, began to raise questions during Salman Akram Raja’s interaction with the media.
According to her own post on X (formerly Twitter), she claimed that reporters from ARY News and Hum News—specifically Fareed and Rafeeq—interrupted her line of questioning. As tensions flared, verbal abuse was exchanged, and the situation spiraled out of control, with both sides blaming each other for the provocation.
In her posts, Safina Khan accused her fellow journalists of cornering her and trying to silence her voice during a politically sensitive event. She also stated that the abusive language hurled at her and the mother of another journalist, Azhar Javed, pushed her to retaliate in kind. She passionately defended her actions by arguing that no woman should have to tolerate such disgraceful behavior, especially in a public and professional setting.
Read : Amid Water Crisis in Pakistan Karachi University Campus Flooded
“I heard someone’s mother being abused, not for myself. There was no such thing as honour among these shameless men… How could I remain silent after hearing the abuse of my own mother?” she wrote on her X profile in Urdu. Her emotional and defiant tone resonated with many supporters who saw her as standing up against misogyny and intimidation.
Use headphones 🎧
— Tathvam-asi (@ssaratht) May 3, 2025
Pakistani Journalists Safina Khan and Asad Malik fight it out at a London eatery. Brawl broke out.
She is the same lady who covered the tearing up of Indian flags, abusing India, praising Pakistan and ISI by Khalistani extremists during their anti-India… pic.twitter.com/6UcPm1OO9Y
Asad Ali Malik, on the other hand, presented a sharply contrasting version of events. In his post on X, he called Safina’s allegations “false and baseless,” claiming that multiple eyewitnesses at the scene could attest to the truth of his account.
Malik, who works for a UK-based media outlet, dismissed the entire episode as a continuation of what he described as a pattern of erratic behavior from Safina. His rebuttal further intensified the online discourse, with many viewers of the video taking sides based on political leanings and personal beliefs.
The Bigger Picture: Political Polarization and Media Fragmentation
This high-profile clash between Pakistani journalists did not occur in a vacuum. It is set against the backdrop of intense political polarization in Pakistan, with Imran Khan’s PTI and its supporters frequently clashing with critics and dissenting voices.
Over the past few years, journalists in Pakistan and abroad have increasingly found themselves either branded as government mouthpieces or opposition propagandists. In such an environment, even press events held thousands of miles away from Islamabad have become battlegrounds for ideological conflict.
Salman Akram Raja, the figure at the center of the event, is a key player within PTI and has been at the forefront of the party’s efforts to maintain political momentum in the face of legal battles and leadership challenges.
The press conference was meant to project a narrative of unity and resilience. However, the altercation between Safina and Malik completely derailed that message, reinforcing perceptions of internal discord and media partisanship.
Moreover, the London incident sheds light on the state of Pakistani journalism abroad. Once considered an anchor of accountability and democratic scrutiny, diaspora journalism is now increasingly marred by factionalism and personal feuds.
The video of the altercation, while sensational, also reveals the fragility of decorum among Pakistani journalists covering heated political issues. Rather than engage in informed questioning or report impartially, the journalists involved became part of the story—overshadowing the subject they were supposed to cover.
Harassment Allegations and Claims of Threats
Beyond the public altercation, Safina Khan’s allegations took a darker turn when she claimed to have faced continuous harassment by supporters of Imran Khan’s PTI. In one of her posts, she alleged that an acid attack had even been attempted against her. While these claims are deeply serious and have yet to be independently verified, they have sparked alarm and calls for investigation.
“An acid attack was even carried out, but I was neither afraid then nor will I be afraid now,” Safina posted defiantly. “If a man gets up and abuses me or my mother, I will abuse him twice as much as the women in his house.”
These are powerful words coming from a journalist who now finds herself at the center of both a media firestorm and a potential personal safety crisis.
She also accused ARY News reporter Farid Qureshi of editing and uploading a manipulated video through a fake account, further muddying the waters about the true sequence of events. Such claims have added a layer of complexity to an already tangled controversy and raised pressing concerns about digital manipulation and disinformation in the media.
The statements by both Safina and Malik, along with other unnamed journalists present at the scene, paint a picture of deep-rooted mistrust and personal animosity. What began as a dispute over speaking rights at a press conference quickly escalated into a litany of accusations—each more disturbing than the last.
This episode should serve as a wake-up call to media organizations, political parties, and civil society. When journalists—who should serve as objective conveyors of truth—resort to personal attacks and street-style brawling, the very foundation of public discourse is undermined. The dignity of journalism lies in asking tough questions, not in engaging in shouting matches or alleging criminal conduct without due process.
As this story continues to unfold, what remains clear is that the public spat between Safina Khan and Asad Ali Malik is more than just a personal feud—it is a reflection of the larger cracks within the fabric of Pakistani media, politics, and diaspora relations.