In an unusual development, members of opposition parties in the Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting warned the committee Chairman Faisal Javed on Tuesday of bringing a no-confidence motion against him "for supporting Prime Minster Imran Khan" and staged a walkout from the committee proceedings after accusing the government of 'banning' media coverage of opposition leaders.
The committee's scheduled meeting chaired by Faisal Javed from the ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) turned tumultuous after the opposition leaders including Pervaiz Rashid from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Moula Bux Chandio from Pakistan People's Party (PPP) suggested that the PM be summoned to the committee meeting to explain why the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has 'banned' the televised coverage of opposition leaders and has not allowed broadcast of the pressers of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
Pervaiz Rashid also criticised the PM for calling Fazl 'Diesel' during his recent speech. "This federal government does not have any information minister. The PM is the minister in-charge of the Information Ministry. In his capacity as the information minister, the PM should be summoned right here and asked why the PEMRA has put an undeclared ban on the coverage of opposition leaders. The PM should also be asked to explain why he made such contemptuous remarks as calling a senior political leader, who heads a political party, 'Diesel.' We won't accept this kind of insulting attitude towards opposition and that too from none other than the PM himself."
However, Faisal Javed, the committee's chairman, dismissed Rashid's criticism and did not agree to the suggestion to summon the PM to the committee. In a lighter vein, he responded, "I know you are very anxious to see the PM. No wonder he has so many fans everywhere, even in the opposition."
Regarding the PM's 'Diesel' remarks, the committee chairman said, "The PM said 'This is the first (National) Assembly functioning without diesel. He did not mention Maulana anywhere in his remarks. If you want to drag the Maulana into this, it's up to you."
The chairman's remarks added fuel to fire as he continued, "By the way, 'diesel' is Maulana's nickname. If he likes it and has never complained about it then why do you guys have problem with that? What's wrong with that? What's offensive about it? Diesel is just a perfectly normal word. It's not an abusive terminology, phrase or word. Why are you creating fuss about it?"
This infuriated the opposition members who warned Javed that they would move a no-confidence motion against him if he did not mend his ways. "You are behaving like a PTI representative instead of acting like this committee's chairman. You are supporting the PM. You are being his spokesman. We won't tolerate you. If you continue with this kind of biased and partisan attitude, we'll have you removed through a no-confidence motion," Rashid said.
The committee's chairman refused to budge back. "This is the Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting. We are here to discuss relevant matters regarding information and broadcasting. You guys have initiated an unnecessary discussion that 'PM said this and PM said that."
Moula Bux Chandio asked Chairman PEMRA Saleem Baig why the PEMRA did not initiate action against PM's 'diesel' remarks. He replied, "We have not received any complaint in this regard. The PEMRA only acts on complaints."
The chairman PEMRA denied that the state-run electronic media regulator has banned media coverage of any opposition leader including Fazl. "There is no ban on media coverage of opposition leaders. They regularly appear on television channels and share their views. Only live coverage is banned due to certain complexities involving the matter," he said.
The opposition refused to accept the chairman PEMRA's explanation and staged a walkout from the committee. Earlier on Thursday last, the PM took a jibe at Fazl in an implied vein. "This is the first (National) Assembly functioning without 'diesel'," the PM said in an obvious reference to the JUI-F chief, while addressing the launching ceremony of federal government's Kamyab Jawan Program. Moreover, the PM has not given any indication publicly or made any statement in support of dialogue with JUI-F over Azadi March. This has mounted the opposition's concerns which has accused the government of not being 'serious' in pursuing dialogue with the opposition.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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