ISLAMABAD: Allegations against two senior journalists, The News Editor Investigation Ansar Abbasi and Geo TV Senior Anchor Kamran Khan, of being agents of CIA and Indian agency RAW by senior PPP leader Raja Riaz and other MPs have been widely denounced by all political parties and members of civil society including stalwarts of the PPP. The MQM said in a statement that to criticise was part of democracy. "Had the PPP alleged that a few journalists are running a negative campaign against the government, no Pakistani along with the MQM would have objected, but calling someone RAW and CIA agent is condemnable." "The PPP should avoid this sort of allegations otherwise confrontation might reach the point of no return," the statement said. PML-Q spokesman Kamil Ali Agha said it was below his level to comment on an allegation hurled by Raja Riaz of the PPP. "First Raja Riaz should himself clarify about his character and then hurl allegations on journalists who expose corruption," he added. Pervaiz Shaukat, president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, while condemning the allegations hurled by PPP leaders, said anybody could differ with the news published by a journalist, but calling someone an agent of RAW and CIA did not suit to any government.
In an unprecedented move, Punjab Assembly unanimously ratified a motion, placed before the House by PML-N member Sanaullah Masti Khel, against media on Friday, according to reports. Interestingly, no assembly member opposed the said motion. The assembly also condemned the programmes being aired casting aspersions on the MPAs. Earlier, some members of the assembly including the female members delivered fiery speeches in the House blaming generals- judges-journalists nexus conspiring against the democratic dispensation. On the other hand, the media persons, sitting in the gallery, immediately left Punjab Assembly and boycotted the proceedings. Later, the journalists held a peaceful demonstration outside the assembly. The journalists raised slogans against this gang up of the lawmakers against the media, set ablaze copies of resolution in protest and chanted slogans in front of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and members of Punjab assembly
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