PA passes ‘pro-media’ resolution despite lack of quorum

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

* Resolution moved by provincial law minister states that assembly members do not favour any kind of restrictions on media

By Hussain Kashif

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly has passed a resolution in favour of the media and lawyers despite a lack of quorum in the House, assuring the two communities that the House had no interest in restraining the rights of both ‘pillars of the society’.

After five days of continuous protests and condemnations from all sections of the society against the anti-media resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah moved the resolution in favour of the media while the quorum in the House was incomplete.

During the House proceedings, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid member Amir Sultan Cheema drew Speaker Rana Iqbal Khan’s attention towards the lack of quorum, but the speaker did not tend to the issue.

In response, Cheema approached the speaker’s desk and removed the microphone in protest, arguing that the proceedings in the House could not be continued after an incomplete quorum.

The Treasury, particularly Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, asked the assembly speaker to take action against Cheema for his “non-parliamentarian act” and demanded the cancellation of his assembly membership, but Rana Iqbal suspended him for the next 15 days and asked him to leave the House.

In its resolution, the Punjab Assembly has assured journalists that the House had no intention of imposing any ban on the media.

The resolution also suggested the constitution of a joint committee of journalists and assembly members to sort out issues in the future.

Meanwhile, journalists have constituted an eight-member committee consisting of top two members each from the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, Punjab Union of Journalists, the Lahore Press Club and the Punjab Assembly Press Gallery Committee.