LAHORE:
Lawmakers from both Treasury and Opposition seats in the Punjab Assembly have agreed on the need for an impartial probe into the entry of unidentified individuals at the time of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister’s arrival at the premises.
However, no one could clarify under what instructions these individuals had entered the building, which would have led to hooliganism.
During Tuesday’s assembly session, the opposition also formally demanded an investigation, saying transparency is in the interest of all stakeholders.
At the same time, the Treasury members condemned the mistreatment of journalists allegedly meted out to visitors accompanying the CM, as well as the derogatory remarks made by opposition lawmakers against journalists covering the Assembly proceedings.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari staged a walkout to express solidarity with journalists. She alleged that the visiting CM’s staff pushed and mistreated journalists. She said that a day earlier, an opposition member had called journalists at the Press Gallery a “sold-out media” and that she condemned the act.
The minister said an opposition member had accused her of placing individuals in the building, calling the allegation baseless and false. She announced that she would initiate defamation proceedings following false accusations.
Opposition MP Rana Shehbaz also demanded an investigation into allegations of hooliganism and unauthorized entry of unknown persons into the assembly.
He said a transparent investigation was essential to determine responsibility.
Rana Shehbaz said he conveyed that certain remarks should not have been made, adding that the speaker also addressed a press conference at the assembly regarding the incident.
