The issue regarding the closure of the press gallery in the lower house has taken the turn for the worse as National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser admitted that he was unable to differentiate between the press gallery and lounge.
NA Speaker Asad Qaiser claimed that the decision was taken after consultation with the Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA).
He maintained that he had a detailed meeting with a representative of PRA. However, the association denied his claims and urged Asad Qiaser to name the person he met.
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PRA also demanded a probe into the statement given by the speaker.
In an unprecedented step in the history of NA, Asad Qaiser didn’t allow the parliamentary reporters to enter the gallery during the presidential address on Monday.
He said that the press gallery and lounge were closed to avoid bedlam.
“It was a misunderstanding as I couldn’t differentiate between press gallery and lounge”, the speaker said.
As a result, the reporters staged a protest in the parliament house corridor against the step taken by Asad Qaiser.
The decision was taken in view of the protest call given by PFUJ and PRA’s possible protest to walk out from the assembly during Alvi’s address.
On the other hand, PRA Information Secretary Malik Saeed Awan denied the claims of the speaker that he consulted with the association before the decision.
He added that the body is consulting on its future strategy and the final decision will be taken after consultation with the members.