Journalists ended their boycott of the National Assembly proceedings on Wednesday, following a statement of apology by the government over the maltreatment to their colleagues in Lahore last week. The word of regret came after a detailed meeting between the journalists' five-member committee and the government team led by Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao. However, the journalists could not succeed in getting a condemnatory resolution passed from the Lower House of the Parliament against Punjab government.
They alleged that sans provincial government's permission, the security personnel could not dare to have resorted to such maltreatment to their colleagues.
After the minister's statement, journalists, who stayed away from the Press Gallery for full two days and two hours, resumed their duty on Wednesday.
Sherpao, on behalf of the government and the opposition, regretted the maltreatment meted out to some 50 newsmen, who landed along with PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari on April 16 in Lahore: They were thrashed, their tapes, cameras and films snatched by the security personnel.
"We will try to ensure that such regrettable incidents don't happen in future. The government believes in freedom of the press and fully trusts the professional abilities of journalists," the minister said.
The government, he maintained, fully realised the feeling of the journalists after their colleagues were maltreated.
He said that the government was also fully sensitive to their (journalists') tools required to carry out their duty.
The government, he added, would like to further expedite an already ordered inquiry into the unfortunate incident.
Sherpao said that the government wanted to resolve the stand-off and made every effort in this connection, as journalists were part and parcel of the Parliament.
The minister acknowledged the efforts made by Health Minister, Mohammad Naseer Khan, Minister of State for Information, Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli, State Minister for Overseas Pakistanis, Tariq Azeem and PIO to reach an agreement with the protesting media-persons.
Journalists had walked out of the National Assembly on Monday, immediately after the recitation from the Holy Quran, announcing boycott until the assembly passed a resolution condemning Punjab government for its role in the incident.
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