PTI alleges voices stifled in parliament
Photo: File
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday alleged restrictions on its leadership, blocked access to its incarcerated founding chairman Imran Khan and suppression of its voice inside Parliament.
The party registered its vehement protest during a National Assembly session chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.
The House initially proceeded to the Question Hour but was soon disrupted when PTI MNA Iqbal Afridi pointed out the lack of quorum. The speaker ordered a headcount, which confirmed the absence of quorum, forcing the suspension of proceedings until it was restored.
Amid the disruption, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, speaking on a point of order, strongly slammed curbs on the party's political and parliamentary activity.
He said PTI had consistently tried to strengthen parliament but alleged that microphones were switched off and speeches were not aired to suppress their stance.
The PTI chairman further lamented that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was not allowed to meet Imran as routes were blocked to restrict access. He added that K-P CM, along with the sisters of the PTI founding chairman, was stopped at Chungi No. 26,
"Meetings with the party leader are being denied and obstacles are being placed in his medical treatment," he added.
He also alleged that a PTI MPA in Azad Kashmir had been picked up from his residence, staging a strong protest on the floor of the House.
However, despite the uproar, the House briefly proceeded with other business.
A calling attention notice regarding the arrest of Pakistani citizens in Cambodia was moved by MNA Shamilah.
Responding, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said the issue was under government review through FIA and Pakistani missions abroad.
He informed the House that 286 inquiries had been conducted, 111 cases registered, and 2,222 individuals offloaded through secondary routes. He added that 3,158 agents had been arrested over the past three years, and over 100 FIA officials had been dismissed from service.
Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry also briefed lawmakers on the kidnapping case of a girl from the Kacha area. He said reports suggested she was in Kot Shaho and that one dacoit had been killed in an encounter.
He added that relatives of the accused claimed the girl had been "bought" from her parents, while an operation was ongoing in the area.
Separately, Shazia Marri raised concerns over media workers' salaries, saying a private TV channel had laid off 170 employees and several others were not being paid wages ahead of Eid.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said efforts by the government and the Information Ministry had led to salary payments in several organisations, and that steps were being taken to ensure remaining dues were cleared before Eid.