Daily Times

Former minister for Minorities and Human Rights of the last PML-N government Khalil Tahir Sandhu has accused the senior official of the Punjab Assembly secretariat for using derogatory and insulting language against him. As per the details, Sandhu came in the session of Punjab Assembly on Monday with a black tape on his mouth as a depiction that his voice is being suppressed. He was demanding the floor repeatedly but the Chair was reluctant to give him the floor to listen his point of view. Later, he was allowed to speak as a number of MPAs from the opposition benches urged the Chair demanding floor for Sindhu. “The Director General Parliamentary Affairs of the assembly secretariat Anayat Ullah Lak used derogatory language against me while inciting the sentiments of the whole Christian community,” said Sandhu in a dejected tone. He was of the view that he went to the office of DG Anayat Lak to submit a call attention notice but the DG refused to take my assembly business by citing the reason that I raise slogans against Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. The DG also snubbed me and used the word ‘Chura’ (Sanitary Worker) for me on the basis of my religious belief while inciting the sentiments of Christian community, he said. ‘Is it a crime to be a Non-Muslim in Pakistan’ asked Sandhu while adding that should he think of leaving Pakistan after these remarks from a high official.

PML-N’s former minister for minorities accuses senior official of using derogatory language against him

Senior PML-N MPA Rana Mashhood also condemned the conduct of DG while demanding a committee of the House to probe the matter. Earlier, Sandhu gave a sit-in in front of the Speaker’ dais to launch his protest against the conduct of DG. At this, minister for Public Prosecution Ch Zaheer-ud-Din said that he wants that the remarks that Nawaz Sharif has used against Benazir Bhutto should be shown at a large screen in this House. ‘Kal ki Chokri security risk ban gyi hy’ (A little girl of yesterday has become a security risk), Ch Zaheer attributed these remarks with Nawaz Sharif for Benazir. These remarks of Ch Zaheer infuriated both Rana Mashhood and Syed Hasan Murtaza of PPP and heated arguments were exchanged between Zaheer and Mashhood. “Derogatory language against Shaheed Benazir Bhutto wouldn’t be tolerated in this House and the PTI should talk about Imran Khan who is an addict,” said Hasan Murtaza. We know very well how to fight these puppets and this controlled democracy and controlled media will not prolong here, he added. Later, the PPP walked out from the house in protest against the remarks used for Bhutto and their MPAs staged sit-in at the stairs of Punjab Assembly.

Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari directed the law minister Raja Basharat to address the grievances of the opposition in a meeting with them on Tuesday morning. I’ll take up the matter of Khalil Tahir Sandhu today in the meeting, law minister assured the House. The general discussion on the issues of public importance couldn’t be held due to the collapse of quorum that was pointed out by the treasury benches as the session was called on the requisition of the opposition benches and therefore it was their responsibility to maintain the quorum. The quorum was pointed out just after the discussion on price control was started and it could last only for few minutes. There were only 9 MPAs of the treasury sitting in the House at that time and law minister was also missing then. The Chair prorogued the House for indefinite time period.