Speaker Asad Qaiser’s explanation for closure of Press Gallery of Parliament

ISLAMABAD Sep 14,2021- Speaker National Assembly came out with explanation for closure of the Press Gallery of Parliament on Monday, when President Dr Arif Alvi was addressing the joint sitting of the Parliament.

Talking to media in Islamabad, Speaker Asad Qaiser said that the decision to close the Press Gallery of Parliament was taken in collaboration with the Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA).

“We had information that there would be riot from the media gallery on the occasion of the joint sitting of parliament,” he said.  

“I The decision to close the press gallery was taken in collaboration with the PRA,” he added.”I don’t want the media to be in a frenzy,” he said.

Asad Qaiser also said that PRA is a representative organization of the House, we should take care of the tradition, and in no case should anyone show rudeness. 

Press Gallery doors were closed

The doors of the Press Gallery of Parliament House were closed to journalists on the occasion of President Dr Arif Ali’s address to the joint sitting of Parliament on Monday.

The main gate of the Parliament House was sealed off and journalists were barred from entering.

The Parliamentary Reporters’ Association staged a sit-in protest inside Gate No. 1 of Parliament.

Protesting journalists said that press gallery cards have been issued to people other than journalists.

President was shocked

Addressing the joint sitting of the parliament, the President, while acknowledging the services of the media, looked at the press gallery of the parliament and found it empty.

The President was shocked to see the Press Gallery empty on this occasion and he also expressed it with a hand gesture.