LAHORE:
Both Treasury and Opposition legislators in the Punjab Assembly have agreed on the need for an impartial inquiry into the entry of unidentified individuals at the time of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister’s arrival at the venue.
However, no one could clarify under what direction the individuals had entered the building, which allegedly led to the vandalism.
During Tuesday’s assembly session, the opposition also formally demanded an investigation, maintaining that transparency is in the interest of all stakeholders.
At the same time, Treasury members condemned the mistreatment of journalists allegedly by visitors accompanying the CM, as well as derogatory comments made by opposition legislators against journalists covering the assembly proceedings.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari went on strike to express solidarity with journalists. He alleged that the visiting CM’s staff had pushed and manhandled the journalists. He said that a day earlier a member of the opposition had labeled journalists in the Press Gallery as “sold media” and condemned the act.
The minister claimed that a member of the opposition had accused her of placing people in the building, calling the accusation baseless and false. He announced that he would initiate defamation proceedings over false accusations.
Opposition member Rana Shehbaz also called for an investigation into the alleged vandalism and unauthorized entry of unknown persons into the assembly.
He said a transparent investigation was essential to determine responsibility.
Rana Shehbaz said he had conveyed that certain comments should not have been made and added that the speaker had also addressed a press conference in the assembly regarding the incident.
