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Opposition gets time on PTV

By Amir Wasim 2013-12-19
ISLAMABAD: Thanks to the rage of ANP`s Zahid Khan the opposition on Wednesday won the right that state-run PTV would telecast its reply to a minister`s speech live but only momentarily.

The opposition`s forceful protest over the `discriminatory policy` of PTV to telecast live only the ministers` speeches forced Senate Chairman Nayyar Hussain Bokhari to give his ruling that PTV would also telecast live the speech of Opposition Leader Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan.

Intervening Finance Minister Ishaq Dar`s speech, Zahid Khan drew the attention of the house that PTV was telecasting the speech live.

After the chair`s ruling, Information Minister Pervez Rashid assured the house that PTV would also telecast Mr Ahsan`s speech live, but with a request that he would not make political point-scoring.

When Mr Ahsan took the floor to respond to Mr Dar`s points, Zahid Khan again came running in from outside, saying that the speech was still not being aired live. Mr Ahsan refused to speak and took the seat.

He, however, started his speech again when the information minister informed the house that PTV would telecast the live once Mr Ahsan started speaking.