NA panel to summon CEO, anchor of private channel

ISLAMABAD:  The National Assembly Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges Tuesday decided to summon the CEO and anchor of a private TV channel in its next meeting in connection with the Question of Privilege raised by Maulana Fazlur Rehman about the baseless allegations leveled against him by the anchor in his programme.

The committee also directed the Pemra to check pervasive violation of media code of conduct and initiate necessary action against the TV channels and anchors found guilty of casting false allegations at the public office holders and elected representatives.

The committee met here at the Parliament House with Junaid Anwar Chaudhry in the chair.  Discussing the Question of Privilege raised by Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the committee observed that no one should be allowed to cast false allegations at anyone without evidence.  The committee further observed that chairman Pemra had apprised it about the action initiated against the TV channel and anchor on a complaint lodged by the mover of the Question of Privilege. He said a few channel owners are aimed at protecting their black money.  The committee, while discussing the Question of Privilege raised by Mr. Abdul Qayyum Nahra, MNA, against Assistant Director (Land), Nowshera Virkan District Gujranwala regarding misconduct of the officer with the member, decided to summon the Chief Secretary Punjab, Senior Member Board of Revenue Punjab and Project Director, Land Record Computerization Project, Punjab to further discuss the issue.  The committee disposed of amendments to Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007, moved by MNAs Sheikh Salahuddin and Muhammad Muzamil Qureshi. 

The committee, however, deferred its discussion on the Questions of Privilege moved by MNAs Mian Imtiaz Ahmed and Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan till next meeting. MNAs Chaudhry Khadim Hussain, Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk, Mr. Najaf Abbas Sial,  Mohammad Raza Hayat Hiraj, Muhammad Arshad khan Leghari, Azhar Qayyum Nahra,  Sheikh Muhammad Akram, Mumtaz Ahmad Tarar, Ms. Kiran Haider, Nawab Muhammad Yousuf Talpur, Mohammad Ayaz Soomro,  Ms. Shagufta Jumani,  Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Muhammad Ali Rashid,  Ms. Aasiya Nasir,  Secretaries of Ministries of Parliamentary Affairs and Inter Provincial Coordination, chairman Pemra and other officers of the concerned departments attended the meeting.