For his action Chaudhry has come under widespread criticism from the journalist community which already feels under siege as a result of the PTI-led government’s censorship tactics.
However, the statement says that the "incident" should not viewed as a "clash between two institutions but as a conflict between two individuals". "Chaudhry reacted after another person tried to wound his self-esteem", the statement added. The response does not state the nature of the minister's reaction, Dawn News reported.
"To term a patriotic Pakistani and government office holder as an agent of [enemy agencies] is contrary to moral and journalistic ethics…along with protesting against [Chaudhry's] actions, [people must] also ask Sami Ibrahim why he trampled over a patriotic Pakistani's self esteem," the statement reads.
Ibrahim has also filed a complaint of the incident at Mansoorabad police station in Faisalabad. The complaint accuses the minister of slapping the journalist at a wedding.