Privilege motion against TV channel | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Privilege motion against TV channel

PESHAWAR: A minister from the ruling Awami National Party has moved a privilege motion in the provincial assembly against a local television channel, raising questions about the eligibility of the mover to use such forum for getting his grievances addressed.

Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain submitted a privilege motion in the provincial assembly against a local Pashto Television channel for initiating a baseless propaganda against him, said a handout issued here on Saturday.

The minister, the handout said, alleged in the privilege motion that the concerned TV channel had started vilification campaign in shape of breaking news, news packages and interviews just to malign him and damage his political career.

It said that a damages suit was also being submitted in the Peshawar High Court against the channel. The TV channel has accused Information Minister Mian Iftikhar and Sports Minister Syed Aqil Shah of violating rules and regulations and committing corruption in their respective departments.

The privilege motion has been referred to the committee on procedure and conduct of business rules, privileges and implementation of government assurances, which is supposed to consider matters regarding procedure and conduct of business in the assembly and recommend such amendments in the rules as may be necessary.

Official sources said that under procedure and conduct of business rules of the assembly the said committee could only discuss and examine privilege motions of the members of the assembly. However, there were no precedents that cabinet members had submitted privilege motion with the committee concerned.
Source: Dawn
Date:8/14/2011