Bizenjo slams ‘media trial’ of party leaders | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Bizenjo slams ‘media trial’ of party leaders

KARACHI: Senator Mir Hasil Bizenjo has asked the government to initiate action against former chief of army staff Gen Aslam Beg and ex-director general of ISI Lt-Gen Asad Durrani for violating Constitution. He made the demand in reference to the verdict of Supreme Court in the Asghar Khan case during a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday.

Answering a question, he said that former president Ghulam Ishaq Khan was not alive but those still living should be tried for violating the Constitution.

He ruled out the possibility of postponement of elections for a year under the 18th Amendment. “It can only be possible if emergency is declared in the country,” he said, adding that neither the present situation required such a situation nor the apex court would allow such a move.

Mr Bizenjo, who is chief of the National Party, criticised the Balochistan government for not meeting even the basic needs to its people despite receiving the highest share under the NFC Award.

A desalination plant was installed in Gwadar to meet the need of potable water. However, the plant is closed for maintenance and people forced to purchase water from tankers at an exorbitant rate, while many have started migrating from there, he said.

Similarly, closure of Pasni harbour was creating financial problems for fishermen as it had been turned into a football ground since last five years. Earlier, in his press conference Mr Bizenjo slammed media trial of his party and leaders, both by the print and electronics.

“We not only raised our voice for the freedom of press but also remained steadfast in its struggle against every regime, but newspapers and TV channels are repeatedly blaming Mir Ghaus Bux Bizenjo and our party for receiving some half-a-million rupees from the ISI”.He regretted media for overlooking the facts. Mir Ghaus Bux Bizenjo died on August 11, 1989 in Karachi, while the ISI filed a case soon after the dismissal of Benazir Bhutto’s government in 1990.

“We contested the 1990 elections from the platform of the National Pakistan Party and won two National Assembly and six provincial assembly seats,” he said reminding that the National Party was formed in 2007. Jamhoori Watan Party and Muslim League contested elections on the IJI tickets.

“Blaming our leaders appears to be a conspiracy against the party”. He demanded denial, particularly from a TV anchor Kamran Khan and his team and warned of legal action over failure to do so. Party leaders B.M. Kutty, Tahira Khurshid, Hameed Baloch and Ayub Qureshi were also present during the press conference.

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