PTV’s Gaffe: Imran Khan Shown Speaking from ‘Begging’, Not Beijing

The gaffe by the Pakistan’s state-run news channel PTV made it a target of trolling by netizens.

Pakistan’s state-run news channel PTV ran the dateline “Begging” instead of “Beijing” on the screen during the broadcast of Imran Khan’s speech in China.

(Photo: IANS)

Pakistan's state-run news channel PTV was trolled by netizens for running "Begging" dateline instead of "Beijing" on the screen during a live broadcast of Prime Minister Imran Khan's speech in China.

Khan, who was on an official trip to China to secure financial support from Beijing for his cash-strapped country, was addressing a ceremony at the Central Party School (of the Communist Party of China) in Beijing on Sunday, 4 November, which was shown live by the Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV).

During the telecast of Khan's address on PTV, the location was misspelled from "Beijing" to "Begging" in the top left corner of the screen.

The typo reportedly remained onscreen for a good 20 seconds or so before it was rectified.

The incident provoked all kinds of reactions from people on Twitter – from some calling the act "disgraceful" to others lauding PTV for becoming "drastically independent". The video left many wondering whether it was intentional.

Pak Govt Sacks Channel Head

The Imran Khan-led government has reportedly ordered the immediate removal of the channel’s managing director (MD) Arshad Khan over the gaffe.

The broadcaster had apologised via Twitter, calling the incident "regrettable". It called the issue a "typographical error.”

"Strict action has been initiated under rules against concerned officials," it said.

According to The News International daily, Pakistan's Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry ordered a probe into the gaffe by the PTV.