Female MPs take the stage at PA

LAHORE: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MPA Azma Bukhari has served notice to a private TV channel (Geo TV) for airing news alleging that her degree was ‘suspect’. Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) MPA Amna Jahangir has resigned from her PA membership.

Addressing the media outside the Punjab Assembly building on Monday, Azma Bukhari said the channel aired the news that her degree was ‘suspect’ and showed her photo with a song making fun of her. “I want to make it clear that I am a graduate and the news is totally baseless,” she said adding she had served notice on the channel to clarify its position within seven days.

“The channel officials have contacted me on the phone and sought an apology but I have asked them to air news that my degree is not a fake and seek a public apology for their negligence,” she said, adding that she had remained silent for several days over the issue. She said that the first time; the channel aired the news on June 24 and later repeated the same news at regular intervals. “My children are asking me what a fake degree means. My friends and family members are shocked over the news,” she said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) MPA Amna Jahangir has resigned from her PA membership. Jahangir went to the speaker’s chamber with two colleagues Majida Zaidi and Samina Khawar Hayat and presented her resignation. According to regulations, if a legislator submits his or her resignation in person to the relevant Speaker it stands accepted. Earlier Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Ahmad Khan refused to accept the resignation of Amna Jehangir sent through a relative. She stated in her resignation letter that due to domestic engagements she was unable to continue her membership with the assembly.  Amna Jehangir was elected on a reserved seat. Her mother, Shehnaz Sheikh, is a 2-time member of the National Assembly from the PML-Q on a reserved seat.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2010.