MPA, media almost clash
KARACHI: The media remained a hot issue during the Sindh Assembly proceedings on Thursday as the Speaker made a reference to a news piece. The House criticized the media for not “properly” covering the proceedings and the issue later took a serious turn when Revenue Minister Murad Ali Shah irked journalists.
Only the timely intervention of Information Minister Shazia Marri saved the government from its first conflict with the media.
Soon after the recitation from the Quran and Naat, Speaker Nisar Khuhro referred to a news item and directed assembly members to follow the rules and avoid bringing private armed guards into the building and refrain from bringing in guests without passes.
Khuhro said that he has directed the assembly secretariat to set up a camp outside the building and MPAs should leave their armed guards and guests there. The Speaker said that he will strictly implement these rules to ensure MPA security. He went on to say that he will not even allow access to the IG Police’s non-uniformed armed guards inside the assembly building.
Revenue Minister Shah and Information Minister Marri complained that the newspapers had not given proper coverage to the last day’s assembly proceedings. Referring to a newspaper, Shah said that it appeared that the reporter covering the assembly was unable to write. His remarks irked the journalists sitting in the press gallery and they started planning to stage a walk-out. However, the information minister arrived at the press gallery and defused the situation.
She later explained to the members that due to the late start and some technical problems, Wednesday’s proceedings could not get proper coverage. She also said that the revenue minister should not have made such remarks about the press.
Source: Daily Times
Date:6/27/2008
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