Pakistan channel PTV 'trolls' PM Imran Khan, says he's Live from 'Begging'

NEW DELHI: Pakistan's state-run news channel PTV ran "Begging" dateline instead of "Beijing" on screen during the live broadcast of Prime Minister Imran Khan's speech in China and became a target of trolling by netizens. Khan, who is on an official trip to China to secure financial support from Beijing for his cash-strapped country, was on Sunday addressing a ceremony at the Central Party School (of the Communist Party of China) in Beijing which was shown live by the Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV). During the telecast of Khan's address on PTV, his 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. The broadcaster later apologised via Twitter, calling the incident "regrettable". It called the issue as 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. The faux pax evoked hilarious reactions on Twitter.

PM @ImranKhanPTI 'Begging' in 'Beijing'!!! ???????????? pic.twitter.com/PZ8kdDNVZn

— Salman Khan ????️‍???? (@ImGreenGuru) November 4, 2018

It was definitely done deliberately by someone in PTV. There's no way Beijing can be misspelled with 'Begging'. Extremely shameful attempt by whoever was responsible for this. https://t.co/R7KjETedt4 pic.twitter.com/0XSrF0TqTM

— Wajahat Kazmi (@KazmiWajahat) November 4, 2018

If that Begging/Beijing error on PTV was done on purpose by someone then its disgraceful. If its a typo then although its funny, its very unprofessional & whoever did it or whoever was supervising, their qualification/experience should b questioned. Such carelessness on state tv?

— Bissmah Mehmud (@bissmahmehmud) November 4, 2018

Someone on the news team accidentally mistyped IK’s location as “Begging” instead of “Beijing” and it’s honestly the most hilariously ironic thing ever. pic.twitter.com/ZfvDduF6lH

— Sameera Khan (@SameeraKhan) November 4, 2018

Rather than writing Beijing, the poor graphics operator wrote “begging”...

Next Level Trolling by PTV! ???? (all channels using PTV broadcast) Baat to sach hai, magar hai ruswai ki! pic.twitter.com/TxazPeWJDF — Shoaib_KuN???????????????? (@engrShoaib_64) November 5, 2018

Wow and just wow. Eventually, the nasty truth revealed on Pakistan duplicity. PTV network have mentioned BEGGING instead of BEJJING, and its deliberately done by PTV. Keep BEGGING, cause without this pakistan won't survive.#Afghanistan #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/lh9lBfANJ6

— voice of voiceless people (@voiceofvoicels) November 4, 2018

(With inputs from IANS)