Privilege motion against Jang columnist moved in PA | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Privilege motion against Jang columnist moved in PA

Pakistan Press Foundation

LAHORE: A privilege motion against Jang columnist Dr Safdar Mehmood was moved by Sheikh Allauddin of the PML-N in Punjab Assembly Wednesday.

In his privilege motion, Allauddin stated that in a column appearing in Daily Jang on March 18, 2014, Safdar Mehmood used derogatory words and wrote baseless things about the members of Punjab Assembly.

He stated in his column that Dr Safdar presented MPAs as the ‘ruler’ of the districts and tehsil, while saying that no DPO, DSP, SHO, male and female teacher could be appointed without their consent.

Sheikh Allauddin said that the columnist had said that the MPAs are given not only ‘share’ of appointments in police and revenue, but also allotted a quota in recruitments, which had politicized the administration.

The PML-N MPA also stated that Dr Safdar had in his column written that in the case related to Amna, the girl who immolated herself in Muzaffargarh, the FIR was quashed on interference of a minister besides raising the question as to why the political parties award tickets to such people with suspected character.

Sheikh Allauddin further stated that in the said column, the columnist had stated that ‘Sifarish Raaj’ (nepotism) is a gift from democratic rulers and it seemed that he wanted end to democracy in the country.

The mover said the columnists had made it a fashion to target elected members of the assembly.Another member of PA, Waris Kallu, who hails from Khushab, seconding the views of Allauddin on the occasion said it seemed that some columnists didn’t want democracy and wanted the country to be governed under dictatorial rule.

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, on the occasion, said referring this motion to the privilege committee might give rise to further spread of this matter. He said sometimes limitations were exceeded in freedom of expression which is wrong but by referring this motion to any committee or registering FIR would neither stop anyone from writing the columns or publishing the news.

Deputy Speaker Sher Gorchani, pending the motion, asked Allauddin to discuss the matter with him in his chamber. Later, in the pre-budget discussion, members including Rana Munawar Ghoa, Shamila Aslam, Sibtain Raza and others came up with their proposals for the upcoming budget.

Meanwhile, chairing a meeting of senior officers of Punjab Schools Education Department at his office in assembly chambers, Punjab Education Minister Rana Mashhood reviewed the progress in provision of missing facilities in the public sector schools of Sheikhupura, Okara, Sahiwal, Sialkot, Jhelum, Muzaffargarh, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad.

Mashhood directed to initiate summary for suspension of EDO (E) Sahiwal Zulfiqar Ali for his careless attitude towards the government policy of teachers’ rationalization in Sahiwal.

The minister took strict notice of not allowing overwhelming majority of the students of 9th class to appear in secondary school educational boards’ examination particularly in Govt. High School Chak No 82/5-L, Katorwala tehsil and district Sahiwal where only 11 students have been promoted to 10th class just to avoid bad results. The number of teachers in this school is 14. The minister also directed to initiate disciplinary action against the headmaster and others responsible for this grave irregularity and violation of rules.

The News


Comments are closed.