Senators want action against Salim Bokhari for abusing MPs

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 6 November 2015

Senators have condemned Salim Bokhari's abusive comments towards Parliament members, demanding government action. Bokhari has since issued an apology for his remarks.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: Senators on both sides of the aisle Thursday condemned the remarks of senior journalist Salim Bokhari (pictured) against members of the Parliament in a television talk show and asked the government to take action against him.

They also demanded that the journalist, who had made abusive remarks against the parliamentarians on October 27, should be banned in both print and electronic media until he tendered an unconditional apology for his words. The matter was raised by Awami National Party Senator Shahi Syed in the House.

Speaking on a point of order, Shahi Syed said uncalled for language against the parliamentarians was unacceptable and the House should take notice of it.

Tahir Hussain Mashhadi of Muttahida Qaumi Movement endorsed Shahi Syed and said the remarks were tantamount to contempt of the Parliament just like that of the Supreme Court and the journalist should be banned for life.

He said according to law, the government could direct Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to impose a ban on the journalist forever, as it was a matter of the Parliament's prestige.

Karim Khawaja of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said such language was being used against the parliamentarians under a conspiracy to malign the democratic system.

Usman Khan Kakar of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) urged the parliamentarians to boycott the TV channel which had aired the program until that journalist was banned.

Minister for State and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch said it was a serious matter and a crime. He opined that legal action should be taken against the journalist.

He suggested that a resolution should be brought in the House against the journalist, besides banning him in the media.

Leader of the Opposition Aitzaz Ahsan said the matter should be taken seriously. The journalist had used uncalled for language, which should be dealt as per law.

He, however, suggested that the Parliament should not become a party and PEMRA should issue a warning to the journalist. The matter should not be left unattended and the Secretary Senate should send a letter and video copy of the program to PEMRA, he suggested.

Mushahidullah Khan of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), while endorsing Aitzaz Ahsan, said the Parliament was a pillar of State and no one had the right to use abusive language against its members. PEMRA should take action in this regard, he added.

Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq called for taking serious notice of the matter and endorsed Aitzaz's suggestion for writing a letter to PEMRA to convey the parliamentarians' resentment.

Lt Gen (Retd) Abdul Qayyum of PML-N said though the media was playing a positive role in strengthening democracy journalists should not give such statements which were contrary to the freedom of expression.

Farhatullah Babar of PPP said sentiments of the senators should be conveyed to PEMRA.

Sardar Azam Musa, Mir Kabeer and Mohsin Aziz also condemned the remarks and called for taking action against the journalist.

Meanwhile, Saleem Bokhari tendered an unconditional apology for his remarks against parliamentarians in a TV talk show on ARY News.

Talking to media, he said he could not defend his inappropriate words. Realizing his mistake, he said, he had immediately apologized for the remarks in the same program and taken his words back.

“I am once again ready to apologize to the Senate chairman, senators and other parliamentarians for my uncalled for words.”

Bokhari lamented that his words had hurt the feelings and sentiments of the parliamentarians.- APP/DND