Pakistani Politician Who Owned Up To Pulwama Attack Comes In Defence Of NewsClick Journalists Accused Of Ties To China, Cites Duty to 'Stand For Indian Muslims'

Pakistani politician and former minister of science and technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, took to X (formerly Twitter) today (3 October) to condemn the Delhi police’s move to question journalists associated with controversial India-based news portal NewsClick, calling it an assault on democracy.

When asked by social media users why he was commenting on a development not related to his home country, Hussain said he had an obligation to stand for the rights of Indian Muslims.

Notably, the Delhi Police’s special cell carried out raids at the residences of seven journalists today (3 October) in an ongoing investigation of the NewsClick portal illegally receiving funding from China.

The portal is allegedly part of a global network receiving funds from American billionaire Neville Roy Singham to run Chinese propaganda.

The case over which raids were carried out today was filed on 17 August under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and IPC sections 153A (promoting enmity) and 120B (criminal conspiracy). No arrests, however, were made.

Reacting to the development, Hussain posted on X, “Early morning Delhi police has raided houses of independent Journalists, India is now a democracy only on paper, in reality its a fascist Government in reality.”

When confronted by an Indian X user on why he was showing interest in the case, Hussain posted, “Threat to freedom anywhere is threat to justice everywhere, people of Pak has responsibility to stand for the rights of Indian Muslims this was the promise founders of Pak made to Muslims in India.”

In 2020, Hussain triggered a major controversy in India, when he said in the Pakistan parliament, that the Pulwama terror attack was carried out by Pakistan.

"Pulwama ke waqiyeh ke baad, jab humne India ko ghus ke maara… (When we hit India in their home after the incident at Pulwama…),” he said in the Pakistan national assembly. After his statement triggered a row in India, he said his statement was misinterpreted.

The Pulwama attack on 14 February 2019, was a suicide bombing attack on a convoy of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Pulwama, that claimed 49 lives.