A live episode of ARY News talk show 11th Hour descended into confusion when Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s video link was abruptly cut, briefly giving viewers the impression that he had been attacked on air.
The minister was joining host Wasim Badami via video call from his Islamabad residence. In the middle of their discussion, Iqbal suddenly looked away from the screen as an unknown person entered the room.
A harsh male voice was heard shouting, “Band kro esay!” (“Turn this off!”) while the individual appeared to forcibly grab the phone Ahsan Iqbal was using for the call.
The camera shook as if being pulled from his hands, and within seconds, the feed went black.
Wait, what just happened? Ahsan Iqbal’s video was abruptly cut during a live show.
pic.twitter.com/B1a50hCR3U
— Faizan (@faizannriaz) December 25, 2025
The sudden cut left both the anchor and viewers stunned. Badami, momentarily taken aback, tried to keep his composure and quickly moved to a break rather than speculate on air, but the tension was visible.
Social media users clipped and shared the moment almost instantly, with many wondering whether the minister had been manhandled or confronted off-screen.
A short while later, Ahsan Iqbal rejoined the programme to resume the discussion. Clearly aware that the audience had just watched a chaotic scene, Wasim Badami carefully tried to check on his guest’s well-being, asking tactfully if everything was alright at his end.
Iqbal, however, chose not to elaborate. He simply responded with a brief “All is well,” offering no further explanation and immediately returning to the political conversation, leaving the on-air mystery technically unresolved.
Away from the studio, fellow politicians and journalists moved to calm the speculation. According to accounts shared by a journalist and later by PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar, they managed to speak with Ahsan Iqbal on the phone after the show and were assured that he was safe and unhurt.
Yes I also spoke to him. Kids came into the study running unexpectedly. All is well and he has rejoined the show https://t.co/JE5iuSDeR2
— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) December 25, 2025
Iqbal reportedly told them that there was a family gathering at his Islamabad home at the time of the programme, and that children had unexpectedly entered his study during the live link. The commotion, raised voices, and abrupt attempt to shut off the phone, he is said to have explained, were the result of that domestic interruption rather than any security incident.
