by Obaid Abbasi
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers on Thursday were barred from holding a press conference at the Press Information Department (PID), a platform which falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
PTI lawmakers included Shehryar Khan Afridi, Syed Shibli Faraz, PTI spokesman Naeemul Haq, Fawad Chaudhry and others came to the PID to hold a press conference regarding their protest, which will be held on Friday at the Parade Avenue.
On PID administration’s refusal to use the platform a protest was staged by the PTI. They said the administration was busy to project government’s stance, particularly Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Information Minister Maryam Aurungzeb through public tax money.
PTI lawmakers continued their protest for one hour and also exchanged harsh words with the PID administration. Talking to the reporters, Fawad Chaudhry criticised the government for not allowing them to hold the press conference.
He said that on Friday the PTI will show its street power against the prime minister. “After the Panama verdict, Nawaz has no moral authority to remain in the post,” said Fawad.
Deputy Commissioner Mushtaq Ahmed on Thursday issued an NOC to the PTI for holding a protest on the Parade Avenue.
It is noted that the first time PTI was allowed to hold a press conference against the government while using PID platform was in April 2016; the purpose of the PID is to disseminate point of view of the government only.
Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb and Secretary Information Sardar Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera were not available to comment on the issue.
