Lawmakers from Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Thursday staged a protest outside the Parliament House against a media ban on speeches of the party chief. MQM Parliamentary Leader Dr Farooq Sattar led the MQM legislators and they all gathered in front of the Parliament House to protest against the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and the government.
The parliamentarians accused the PEMRA of intentionally blocking media coverage of the MQM chief and chanted slogans against it as well. They were also carrying placards inscribed with slogans in support of the MQM chief. The MQM lawmakers urged the government to implement article 19 of the constitution and allow television channels to broadcast speeches of their party chief.
Khalid Maqbool Siddqui, Sheikh Salahudin, Senator Nasreen Jalil, Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi and other members were also present. It is to be mentioned here that Lahore High Court (LHC) had ordered the relevant authorities including PEMRA to ban any kind of media coverage to MQM chief after hearing a petition against his statements.