NA discusses tussle between Jang, govt
ISLAMABAD, JANUARY 28: The National Assembly on Thursday discussed the on-going tussle between Senator Saifur Rehman and Jang group of publications amid a half hearted walkout by newsmen from the press gallery.
The government was persistent in guarding it’s action against the group while terming it a legal course within the parameters of law but the opposition members were unanimous that it was a fascist move aimed at curbing the freedom of the press.
The issue was discussed on a calling attention notice moved by the opposition members including Syed Naveed Qamar, Wali Mohammad Khan’ Aftab Shahban Mirani, Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, Kunwar Khalid Younis, Asfandyar Wali and Syed Khurshid Ali Shah.
While speaking on his motion Syed Naveed Qamar attacked Senator Saif for allegedly pressuring the management of the newspaper to come to his terms which included the sacking of 16 journalists and the non-publication of reports which went against the government. Mr Qamar said it was state hooliganism against a newspaper which was uncovering scandals against the rulers.
Wali Mohammad Khan asked the government that how could they justify the reported threats given to the newspapers by the EB chief.
Aftab Shahban Mirani asked the government to explain how could Sen. Saif initiate tax notices to anybody when he had not paid any tax during the period from 1994 to 1997.
Mr Mirani said the senator was bound under the law to file tax returns of his income wealth worldwide if he had stayed in Pakistan over 90 days during the said period. “He is liable of income and wealth tax along with penalties if he had stayed in Pakistan beyond 90 days,” Mirani said, adding if he had not stayed for this period then he was in eligible to become a senator.
He also referred to senator’s alleged statements against the judiciary, which appeared in Jang and Newsline advertisements on Jan 27. He said since no denial to these statements had been issued so the government owed an explanation to the National Assembly.
Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani wanted to know the reason that why the government did not move against the newspaper two years back for evading tax. He questioned the sincerity of the government’s apparent reason behind its action and termed it victimisation of the press.
Kunwar Khalid Younis criticised the information minister for being not available in the National Assembly to respond to this calling attention notice. He said Mushahid Hussain for being a journalist himself before joining politics should have resigned from his office to protest Senator Saifur Rehman’s attack on the press.
Asfandyar Khan Wali said that everything in this government was handled by the EB and the concerned ministries including the information ministry (in case of the on-going tussle) had no authority in the matters falling in their jurisdiction. Ehtesab Bureau, he said, had become a supra constitutional body which wanted to control every single institution in the country.
Syed Khurshid Shah said how could the man (Senator Saif) who withdrew $200m from his foreign currency accounts a day before the freezing of such accounts and making investments in foreign country from loans taken from Pakistani banks, could ask others to give tax. He said the conditions Created by the Nawaz government might jolt the very foundations of this country.
Responding to the accusations from the government side, Parliamentary Secretary on Information, Anwarul Haq Ramay, said the opposition’s move that the government had served the income tax and Customs notices to Jang management were strictly in accordance with the law of the land. He denied that the government’s action tantamount to curb the freedom of the press. “We have full respect for journalists and for the freedom of the press,” Ramay said.
He said 24 years back the management of the newspaper was served with income tax notices and at that time Mir Khalilur Rehman had not opted to fight against the government but had decided to pay the taxes. He advised the present management to follow in the footsteps of the founder of the newspaper group.
Ramay said the government had respect for all institutions of the state and did not want to victimise anybody. He, however, pointed out that the group had been publishing reports which were baseless and also against the interest of the country.
Justifying Saif’s contacts with the newspaper’s management on different occasions, he said, any citizen of the country could question the press on any report it had carried.
Earlier the newsmen covering the NA proceedings staged a half-hearted token waIkout to register their protest against the government’s actions against the group. Two journalists opted to remain in the gallery while those who staged the walkout were badly divided.
Anwarul Haq Ramay and MNA Tariq Aziz came to the press lobby to listen to the views of protesting mediamen but it was really embarrassing for most of the journalists to see the leaders of their different groups contradicting each other.
Source: Dawn
Date:1/29/1999
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