Punjab PA beats hasty retreat
It took only 4 days for Punjab Assembly members to complete a hasty retreat from a unanimously-passed anti-media resolution.
LAHORE:
It took only four days for Punjab Assembly members to complete a hasty retreat from a unanimously-passed resolution against the media, with the House instead passing a pro-media resolution on Tuesday.
Media persons did not enter the assembly for a second consecutive day and recorded their protest against the earlier resolution.
The new resolution, however, was not unanimously passed like its antithesis was earlier, and the opposition and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) members remained absent from the session. The PA also lacked quorum as the resolution was being presented, but, despite this, Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal asked the members to vote and pass the resolution.
The speaker also suspended PA opposition member Amir Sultan Cheema – who created a commotion in the House to point out the lack of quorum – for creating hurdles in the passing of the resolution. Cheema has also been banned by the speaker from entering the PA premises for 15 days.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah moved the resolution, the text of which “appreciated” the media and “its sacrifice for the restoration of democracy.” The resolution states: “The democracy was restored by the efforts of public, politicians, journalists and lawyers. This House considers the recent incident has damaged the atmosphere of unity therefore it is necessary a resolution should be brought to strengthen the democracy and constitution. The House salutes the media for strengthening rule of law and people’s right. The House considers that the movement of supremacy of judiciary and eradicating dictatorship was not possible with[out] free media. The House also wants to clear that PA members were not in favour of imposing any curbs on free media and want to give every sort of access of information to media. The House also demands of forming a committee consisting of media and PA members, which prepares report. These reservations of political parties and PA members should be included in the report.”
Rana Sanaullah sought permission for moving the resolution, but Cheema pointed out the quorum. The speaker ignored Cheema’s reservation, and allowed the law minister to read the resolution. Cheema approach the speaker’s seat and began to protest there. In fact, at one point, he also tried to stop the speaker from holding his microphone. The law minister requested the speaker to cancel the membership of Cheema for his misbehaviour. However, the speaker spared Cheema and only suspended him from entering the PA for 15 days.
Earlier, a meeting of the business advisory committee was held before the PA session where it was decided that a resolution should be passed unanimously in favour of the media and the media boycott should come to an end.
Later, speaking outside PA, the law minister said that the government believes completely in the freedom of the media. He said that the purpose of the new resolution was to show solidarity with the media, adding that the Punjab government does not want to impose any ban on the media.
Prior to the resolution, journalists set up a protest camp outside the PA building and boycotted the session. They wore black armbands and raised slogans against PA members.
After the resolution was passed, media associations said that they neither accept nor reject the resolution. “The committee formed by Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) would look into the resolution on Wednesday morning and decide about the fate of the boycott,” said Lahore Press Club President Sarmad Bashir.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 14th, 2010.
It took only four days for Punjab Assembly members to complete a hasty retreat from a unanimously-passed resolution against the media, with the House instead passing a pro-media resolution on Tuesday.
Media persons did not enter the assembly for a second consecutive day and recorded their protest against the earlier resolution.
The new resolution, however, was not unanimously passed like its antithesis was earlier, and the opposition and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) members remained absent from the session. The PA also lacked quorum as the resolution was being presented, but, despite this, Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal asked the members to vote and pass the resolution.
The speaker also suspended PA opposition member Amir Sultan Cheema – who created a commotion in the House to point out the lack of quorum – for creating hurdles in the passing of the resolution. Cheema has also been banned by the speaker from entering the PA premises for 15 days.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah moved the resolution, the text of which “appreciated” the media and “its sacrifice for the restoration of democracy.” The resolution states: “The democracy was restored by the efforts of public, politicians, journalists and lawyers. This House considers the recent incident has damaged the atmosphere of unity therefore it is necessary a resolution should be brought to strengthen the democracy and constitution. The House salutes the media for strengthening rule of law and people’s right. The House considers that the movement of supremacy of judiciary and eradicating dictatorship was not possible with[out] free media. The House also wants to clear that PA members were not in favour of imposing any curbs on free media and want to give every sort of access of information to media. The House also demands of forming a committee consisting of media and PA members, which prepares report. These reservations of political parties and PA members should be included in the report.”
Rana Sanaullah sought permission for moving the resolution, but Cheema pointed out the quorum. The speaker ignored Cheema’s reservation, and allowed the law minister to read the resolution. Cheema approach the speaker’s seat and began to protest there. In fact, at one point, he also tried to stop the speaker from holding his microphone. The law minister requested the speaker to cancel the membership of Cheema for his misbehaviour. However, the speaker spared Cheema and only suspended him from entering the PA for 15 days.
Earlier, a meeting of the business advisory committee was held before the PA session where it was decided that a resolution should be passed unanimously in favour of the media and the media boycott should come to an end.
Later, speaking outside PA, the law minister said that the government believes completely in the freedom of the media. He said that the purpose of the new resolution was to show solidarity with the media, adding that the Punjab government does not want to impose any ban on the media.
Prior to the resolution, journalists set up a protest camp outside the PA building and boycotted the session. They wore black armbands and raised slogans against PA members.
After the resolution was passed, media associations said that they neither accept nor reject the resolution. “The committee formed by Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) would look into the resolution on Wednesday morning and decide about the fate of the boycott,” said Lahore Press Club President Sarmad Bashir.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 14th, 2010.