LAHORE: Criticism by a senior journalist on Pakistan Muslims League-N created a scene at a function held to mark the 72nd death anniversary of Allama Iqbal here on Wednesday.

The incident occurred at Awani-i-Karkunan-i-Tehrik-i-Pakistan hall when editor of an Urdu daily chided the PML-N leadership for its ‘inaction’ to a statement by ANP Senator Haji Adeel, allegedly against Quaid-i-Azam, and police torture of those protesting killing of three women in Shahdara.

The criticism enraged MPA Rana Arshad and some Muslim Students Federation members, besides some other supporters of the party, who pushed the journalist while raising slogans in favour of the party leadership.

Earlier, to the dismay of serious audience, MSF members raised more slogans for Nawaz Sharif, Rana Arshad, Javed Hashmi, Saad Rafiq, Ghaus Ali Shah and Pir Sabir Shah than for Allama Iqbal. They protested and demanded that the sloganeers should be expelled from the hall.

Some of the audience even walked out of the hall against PML-N supporters’ attitude.

Urging the MSF activists to keep silent, Saad said under democratic norms all citizens, including journalists, had the right to criticise politicians. He said the objections to party would be responded with arguments.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and former amir of Jamaat-i-Islami Qazi Husain Ahmad did not attend the ceremony.
Source: Dawn
Date:4/22/2010