Two Waziristan MNAs not allowed to hold presser at press club

JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 27 April 2019

MNA Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir were prevented from holding a press conference at the National Press Club in Islamabad. This incident has raised questions about freedom of speech and the management of the press club.
Summary

ISLAMABAD - MNA Mohsin Dawar has said that he and fellow legislator Ali Wazir were not allowed to hold a press conference at the National Press Club on Friday despite making a booking in advance.

In a tweet, he said: “Today, me & @Aliwazirna50, elected representatives of Waziristan were not allowed to hold a press conference at the Islamabad Press Club despite having a booking. We know who is behind this, but we also wonder whether they know what they are doing to the unity of this federation?”

Today, me & @Aliwazirna50, elected representatives of Waziristan were not allowed to hold a press conference at the Islamabad Press Club despite having a booking. We know who is behind this, but we also wonder whether they know what they are doing to the unity of this federation?
— Mohsin Dawar (@mjdawar) April 26, 2019

Journalist and activist Marvi Sarmad asked who is running the press club in the capital. “Honorable members of Parliament @mjdawar and @Aliwazirna50 were not allowed in press club to hold a presser. Who is running the club? Where is the elected body of journalists that runs it? Who is dictating terms to national press club? We have a right to know.”

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also regretted that the two MNAs from Waziristan were not allowed to hold the presser. “Extremely disappointed to hear that 2 elected MNA were not allowed to hold their press conference at National Press Club Islamabad. While censorship has reached new heights in NayaPakistan, press clubs have always been sanctuaries of free speech even under the worst dictatorship.”

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