Broadcast temporarily interrupted and viewers alarmed, Iqbal returns to reassure viewers
Minister of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal. PHOTO: APPLICATION
A live television interview with Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal was briefly interrupted on Thursday when its video feed appeared to be cut off after an off-camera voice was heard saying: “stop it” (“band karo isay”).
When Iqbal returned to air shortly after, the host told viewers that many had been alarmed by the abrupt disruption and asked if everything was okay. The minister reassured viewers: “everything is fine”.
Iqbal said there was no problem, after which the host said he would not press the subject further and resumed the discussion, noting that there were only “eight to ten minutes” of the program left.
The minister later provided a clarification on He said he resumed the interview shortly after and urged people to avoid “unnecessary politicization” of the incident.
The clip of the interruption circulated widely on social media, sparking speculation about the cause of the interruption.
In an article on He said the minister joined the program shortly after and the host could confirm the account.
Thank you for the messages of concern. A brief disruption occurred during a live broadcast when someone nearby arguing did not know I was live on air.
I resumed the interview shortly after. I hope we can avoid unnecessary politicization of this issue.– Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) December 25, 2025
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also said he had spoken to Iqbal and confirmed that “children ran into the study unexpectedly”, adding that the minister joined the show and that “everything is fine”.
