PPP leaders continue Jang, Geo bashing | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

PPP leaders continue Jang, Geo bashing

By Faizan Bangash

LAHORE: The PPP legislators continued giving vent to their anger against the daily Jang and Geo News channel and its senior members in and outside the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday.

Along with Senior Minister of the PPP Raja Riaz, it were Azma Zahid Bokhari and Col (R) Naveed Sajid, two other PPP MPAs who targeted the largest media group of Pakistan and senior journalists, including Hamid Mir, Ansar Abbasi and Kamran Khan on the private members day.

It is noteworthy that on Tuesday as well, rather than paying attention to the process of legislation, voicing concerns for relief and rehabilitation of the flood affected people and giving any suggestion for alleviating poverty in the largest province of Pakistan, the PPP camp remained busy gratifying their envy of the Jang Group.

Adopting the same spirit, the PPP members continued to pass personal remarks against the members associated with Jang and Geo and spared no opportunity to sling mud at the media group on Tuesday.

PPP Parliamentary Leader Raja Riaz Ahmed, on a point of order, stated he stood by his statement of declaring Ansar Abbasi and Kamran Khan the agents of India. He alleged that these two journalists had been working on the agenda of targeting the president of Pakistan. Raja Riaz interrupted the proceedings at a time when a resolution, moved by the PML-Q’s Amna Ulfat, was under discussion. After he had finished, Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood Ahmed, who was chairing the session, addressed Raja Riaz and remarked that it would have been better if he had waited till the debate over the resolution was completed.

However, the speech of Raja Riaz couldn’t ease the anger of the PPP camp against the largest media group of Pakistan, which had also remained in the forefront in the struggle for restoration of democracy.

She asserted that if the president, prime minister and elected representatives could file their assets, why not the media persons. She demanded that journalists including Hamir Mir, Ansar Abbasi and Kamran Khan should also disclose their assets.

Col (R) Naveed Sajid of the PPP was another legislator who also ìsecondedî the views of Raja Riaz and asked Jang, Geo members not to teach the PPP the lesson of democracy.

Punjab Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan, on the occasion, stated that respect must be paid to all institutions including media, parliament, and judiciary. He said if Kamran Khan or anyone levels any allegation, ìwe must clear ourselves from these chargesî.

He said it was the need of hour that we all must feel our responsibilities and prove the charge which is levelled against anybody. He stressed the need for enacting a law which would bound people to have complete proof.

In a chat with the media outside the Punjab Assembly, the PPP senior minister also adopted the same tone against Jang and Geo and its senior staffers.
Source: The News
Date:10/20/2010