Former General Workers Union secretary general Tony Zarb has lashed out at The Malta Independent, labelling us as “political terrorists” for trying to get a comment from former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

In a comment on Facebook together with a screenshot of TMI’s report of an attempt to speak to Muscat as he was leaving Parliament on Monday, Zarb said that Muscat continues to be “persecuted” even now that he resigned.

In far from impeccable Maltese – he mis-spelt “terroristi” twice, just to give one example – Zarb said that stories continue to be “invented” about Muscat.

He described us as “political terrorists” and reminded us that “Joseph” will remain in the hearts of the genuine Maltese.

The Malta Independent was trying to obtain a comment from Muscat on his presence at a meeting the government had with Steward Healthcare.

Civil Society NGO Repubblika condemned Zarb’s attack on this newspaper.

It said it was “shameful” to attack journalists and call them ‘political terrorists’ for carrying out their duties and asking Joseph Muscat about his actions. “This is their right as journalists and our right as citizens,” the group said.

Repubblika said Zarb’s actions were more worrying when one considers the fact that he is a government consultant.