Rashid slammed for not giving coverage on PTV: National Assembly panel's meeting

The treasury and opposition members in the National Assembly on Tuesday joined hands to pour criticism on Information and Broadcasting Minister Sheikh Rashid for not giving coverage to the House Committee's meeting on Pakistan Television.
Even one ruling party MNA Begum Khurshid Afgan even proposed that a resolution should be passed against the minister, who she alleged, was obsessed with self-projection.
Committee Chairman Rehana Aleem Mashhadi was the first to speak on the issue, immediately after the recitation from the Holy Quran was over.
"I am not keen for being shown on television, but the House body requires proper coverage at least on the state media," she said.
Hafiz Hussain Ahmed of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) said that the opposition offered to extend full co-operation to the government in the post-quake situation, but it appeared some elements were not happy on this gesture.
In the committee meeting on Monday, when the members showered praise on the private television channels, the minister as a mark of protest, wanted to walkout of the meeting, but was convinced to stay back.
He insisted that the private channels' role was commendable, but PTV's contribution could not be underlined or overlooked. He charged that the private TV channels were even trying to sensationalise the situation, arising out of the quake.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan regretted the blackout of the members in the PTV bulletins and said that the minister should explain his position on the floor of the House.
National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain said that if PTV was not giving coverage to the House committees' proceedings, it enjoyed the powers and formulates a policy thereon.
He said some members had been bringing to his notice that they were not being given proper coverage on PTV. The chair announced to shortly summon a meeting of the council of chairmen to ponder over the issue. The treasury and opposition members praised the private television channels for highlighting various aspects of the quake tragedy.