Twitter is currently witnessing a dispute between Minister of Energy Hammad Azhar and top anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada on Pakistan’s liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Amid a series of heated public exchanges, Hammad Azhar recently challenged Khanzada to a debate on gas issues. He also demanded that independent experts moderate the debate.
“I would like to challenge Shahzeb Khanzada to debate LNG and gas issues with me moderated by a neutral anchor and with independent experts. Let the people see the facts without persistent interrupting, volume controls, teleprompters, etc,” he wrote.
I would like to challenge Shahzeb Khanzada to debate LNG and Gas issues with me moderated by a neutral anchor and with Independent experts. Let the ppl see the facts without persistent interrupting, volume controls, teleprompters etc.
— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) November 19, 2021
The issue initially began when Shahzeb Khanzada warned of an expected gas shortage during the winter season. He explained that during the winter season the government will only have 10 LNG cargoes, despite having a capacity of 14 LNG cargoes. However, in the winter the demand racks up to more than 14 cargoes.
گزشتہ برس حکومت دیرکرنےکی وجہ سےایل این جی نہ لےپائی اورگیس کابحران آیا۔اس سال اس سےبھی کم ایل این جی آئےگی مگروزیرتوانائی نےاپنی گزشتہ برس کی بری کارکردگی کااس سال کی مزیدبری کارکردگی سےموازنہ کرکے بتایاکہ حالات پچھلےسال سے تھوڑے ہی زیادہ برےہیں۔ دیکھیے
— Shahzeb Khanzada (@shazbkhanzdaGEO) October 15, 2021
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He also discussed a report by National Electric Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on the impending gas crisis while questioning the government about the delay in the purchase of LNG.
Reacting to the show, the Minister had questioned the segment’s reporting, saying that it is a sign of “lack of knowledge”.
Mr Khanzada, its not the NEPRA report that raises questions but your understanding of the energy sector. Time to face facts tonight at your own show.
And stop using your group's newspaper to cover you up with one sided news items. https://t.co/CEsTTVZhMm— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) October 18, 2021
A heated exchange
The Minister then took part in Shahzeb Khanzada’s show to set the record straight. While referring to the NEPRA report, Khanzada questioned the government’s delay in purchasing LNG.
On the other hand, the Minister resolutely maintained that the government ordered the LNG in a timely manner. He also said that the NEPRA report was not about LNG, but in fact, load balancing.
However, Khanzada again pointed to the report and highlighted how the regulator could not get the required volume of fuel despite conveying its demand to the quarters concerned.
The exchange increasingly began intense as both the men squabbled on air. At one point, Hammad Azhar told Shahzeb Khanzada to calm down.
Since the show aired, both Hammad Azhar and Shahzeb Khanzada have been taking shots at each other.
Read more: Hammad Azhar slams Dawn for publishing fake news
Shahzeb Khanzada vs Hammad Azhar
Reacting to Hammad Azhar’s challenge, Shahzeb Khanzada claimed that after the show, the minister was invited multiple times to present his side of the facts. However, there was no positive response.
Meanwhile, the Minister accused the anchor of deliberately ignoring his challenge for fear of being called out on account of misrepresenting facts.
“Because he himself knows that for three years he kept telling people the wrong reasons for the shortage of gas in winter and also ran a completely wrong campaign on the purchase of LNG,” the Minister tweeted.
آئیں بائیں شائیں۔۔حماد اظہر یہ حماد اظہر وہ۔۔پر میرا کھلا چیلنج کے آؤ اور نیوٹرل اینکر کے ساتھ پروگرام میں بات کریں سے بھاگھ گئے جناب۔
کیونکہ خود پتہ ہے انہیں کہ تین سال یہ سردیوں میں گیس کی کمی کی غلط وجوھات لوگوں کو بتاتے رہے اور LNG کی خریداری پر بھی بلکل غلط کمپین چلائی۔ pic.twitter.com/SbdJWzh2ke— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) November 19, 2021
پروگرام کوروکنے کامطالبہ بھی اورپھرغلط بیانی بھی۔
خودثبوت دیکھیے اورجانیے کہ کیسے عوام ، وزیراعظم اورخود تحریک انصاف کے سپورٹرز سے غلط بیانی کی جارہی ہے۔
— Shahzeb Khanzada (@shazbkhanzdaGEO) November 20, 2021
Needless to say, the public exchange between Hammad Azhar and Shahzeb Khanzada has left Twitter divided. Many applauded showed support to the Minister for explaining the context of the report. On the other hand, Shahzeb Khanzada also received praise for doing what journalists are supposed to do, i.e. raise questions on important issues.
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