Islamabad (October 05, 2017): Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Riaz Hussain Pirzada and other treasury members staged a walkout against the reports of an alleged Intelligence Bureau (IB) memo claiming links between parliamentarians and proscribed organizations.
The list named a number of key ministers, including Riaz Pirzada, Zahid Hamid, Baleeghur Rehman, Sikandar Bosan, Hafiz Abdul Kareem and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Murtaza Javed Abbasi as having links with proscribed organizations.
During the National Assembly session, Pirzada raised the issue on a point of order. Speaking on the floor of the house, he said that he was from a respectable family, and holds the honor of his ancestors.
He questioned as to why he was given ministry if he had contacts with proscribed organisations.
“I don’t believe in IB. I am not a kid, I have been in politics from more than 50 years,” he said. “The Prime Minister house should have immediately ordered an inquiry after receiving the report. If I am a terrorist why I am a minister.”
He added Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Finance Minister should clarify if the inquiry was initiated by PM House or not.
Responding to the minister’s speech, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq interrupted and told Pirzada that while he was on a visit to Iraq, IB has filed a complaint in PEMRA that it is a fake document.
“Come to my chamber tomorrow. I will call DG IB. This is a sub judice matter,” the speaker directed Pirzada.
Earlier, the federal government took notice of the memo and announced to file case in Islamabad’s Secretariat police station.
The IB has also issued a formal denial of any such report or list. The government also advised Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to take strict action against apparently mala fide reporting.
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